Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can negatively impact your overall health. If you are not getting quality sleep because of sleep apnea, you may be wondering when the condition is considered severe.
When it comes to sleep apnea, there is a lot of confusion surrounding what constitutes a severe case. Many people believe that if they are not experiencing health problems due to their sleep apnea, they do not have a severe form of the disorder. However, this is not always the case.
When Is Sleep Apnea Considered Severe?
Generally, sleep apnea is classified as severe if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Loud snoring
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Waking up frequently throughout the night
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, it is crucial to seek treatment. Sleep apnea can have many serious health consequences, so it is not something to be taken lightly.
Some people may not realize they have sleep apnea because they do not experience all of the above symptoms. For example, someone with mild sleep apnea may only snore loudly and not experience other issues. However, this does not mean that sleep apnea is not a problem. Even mild sleep apnea can lead to health complications if not treated.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea is a severe form of sleep apnea. While sleeping, it causes your breathing to stop and start periodically.
When you have OSA, the muscles in your upper airway relax while you sleep. As a result, your airways become obstructed, preventing you from getting adequate oxygen. Your breathing may stall for 10 seconds or longer before your reflexes trigger breathing to resume. You have severe sleep apnea if your breathing stops and restarts more than 30 times each hour.
Based on the number of breathing pauses per hour you have while sleeping, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) analyzes obstructive sleep apnea to define a range from mild to severe.
Obstructive sleep apnea can range from mild to severe, based on a measurement system called the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The AHI is a measurement of how many breathing pauses you have per hour of sleep.
- Severe obstructive sleep apnea – AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour)
- Moderate obstructive sleep apnea – AHI is between 15 and 30
- Mild obstructive sleep apnea – AHI is between 5 and 15
How Sleep Apnea Affects Daily Life
People with sleep apnea often report feeling less alert and more forgetful. In addition, they are more likely to suffer from stress and anxiety. This is because lack of sleep can wreak havoc on your mood and cognitive function. If you have difficulty functioning during the day, it is essential to seek treatment for sleep apnea.
Schedule a Consultation
If you think you may have sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with Dr. Buck today. Dr. David Buck has had comprehensive training in dental sleep medicine. He and his team can work with you to manage the serious disease of sleep apnea.
Dr. Buck is part of a collaborative team consisting of sleep physicians, sleep techs, sleep centers, ENT physicians, and pulmonologists who combine their expertise to maximally manage obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.
Give us a call today at (425) 409-2291.
