Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep breathing disorder in which you actually stop breathing multiple times a night, usually for 10-30 seconds, but sometimes for a minute or more at a time. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where some part of your anatomy obstructs your airways while you sleep.
Around the world, more than 936 million people aged 30-69 have OSA. You’re more likely to suffer from OSA as you age because your tissues and muscles become weaker and thinner. You’re also more likely to suffer from OSA if you have obesity.
In the United States, called “the obesity capital of the world” in a 2022 editorial paper, almost 34% of men and more than 17% of women suffer from OSA. Just as obesity raises your risk for OSA, it also raises your risk for life-threatening conditions. In a deadly spiral, OSA also increases your risk for the same conditions, including:
At Laurelton Heart Specialists, renowned cardiologist, Dr. Ola Akinboboye, and our team help you sleep better by diagnosing and treating all types of sleep apnea, including OSA. At our office in Rosedale, Queens, New York City, we offer sleep studies as well as sleep apnea treatments.
Why is sleep apnea so dangerous? Below is a brief summary.
Although exceptions exist, most people — unless they’ve specifically trained to do otherwise — can safely hold their breaths for or go without oxygen for only 1-2 minutes. Longer than that, a person may experience cell death and the beginnings of organ damage.
When you have sleep apnea, something stops you from breathing as you sleep. When you have OSA, it’s a portion of your anatomy, such as a:
If you have another form of sleep apnea called central sleep apnea (CSA), your brain may “forget” to signal your lungs to breathe while you sleep. You can also have a mixed type of sleep apnea, where you have both CSA and OSA.
No matter what type of sleep apnea you have, the result is the same: When you don’t breathe, your air is cut short. Your organs can’t get the oxygen they need to survive and thrive.
An apnea — which comes from the ancient Greek word for “pause” — can last from 10 seconds to more than a minute. Apneas deprive your organs of life-giving oxygen.
Normal blood oxygen levels while sleeping range from 96-100%. If you have sleep apnea, however, your blood oxygen levels may fall dangerously low. People with OSA may have a blood oxygen level of 88% or below.
The lack of oxygen your body experiences during apneas accounts for why OSA, CSA and mixed sleep apnea are associated with life-threatening conditions. Your heart, lungs, and brain all need oxygen to function. Without it, the cells that make up your tissues start to die. If you don’t treat it, severe OSA raises your risk for having a heart attack by 2.6 times.
In addition to compromising your organ function, sleep apnea can make it difficult or impossible to accomplish your daily tasks. You may find that you drift off to sleep in class or at work, which can affect your performance.
More troubling, and potentially deadly, is the increased risk for falling asleep at the wheel or while operating heavy equipment. The National Highway Safety Administration states that drowsy-driving accidents killed 693 people in 2022.
If you feel sleepy, even after a good night’s “rest,” don’t get in the car. Pick up the phone and call our team at 718-208-4816 for a sleep apnea evaluation. You can also use our online outreach form.
