ANCSLEEP BLOG

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleeping disorder and medical condition that causes you to repeatedly stop breathing and then rouse yourself throughout the night. OSA happens when the throat muscles in the back of your throat relax, causing the airway to narrow and your tongue to cleave to the back of your mouth, instigating snoring and a closed airway. Because you have rouse each time this happens, OSA prevents you from getting restful sleep, resulting in chronic (and potentially severe) sleep deprivation.

This process of not breathing and rousing can happen many times per hour:

• Mild OSA: 5-14 apneas per hour of sleep
• Moderate OSA: 15-30 apneas per hour of sleep
• Severe OSA: 30+ apneas per hour of sleep

Even moderate sleep apnea causes you to wake up over 100 times per night. The good news is that OSA is usually fully treated with CPAP therapy.

The bad news is that the risks are still the same for mild, moderate, and severe OSA, the only difference may be the prevalence and severity of the symptoms – that is, whether or not you are rousing 80 or 250 times per night, you are incredibly sleep deprived regardless.

Different Types of Parasomnias

What are Parasomnias? Parasomnias are not a single sleep disorder, but refer to a collection of sleep disorders that disrupt your circadian rhythm and impact sleep quality. You may or may not be aware that you have a parasomnia sleep disorder, such as those listed below.  

Some of the most common para parasomnias, and those that we will discuss in this article, include:

• Sleep talking
• Sleep walking
• Night terrors
• Sleep paralysis
• Nocturnal paroxysmal dystonia (NPD)
• Sleep bruxism (teeth grinding)
• REM sleep behavior disorder

As we go through the list, see if you have experienced any of these symptoms and speak with your doctor about them.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is being unable to fall asleep, stay asleep for any restful of time, or sleep until an appropriate time in the morning (i.e., waking up wide awake at 3am). It is a frustrating disorder because you want to sleep, but you just can’t. As you get more sleep deprived over time, this disconnect between wanting to sleep and actually sleeping can become extremely pronounced. Unfortunately, insomnia can have consequences far more severe than just frustration.

Insomnia can be 2 types:

• Chronic – it is a problem most night and lasts more than a month
• Acute – it is a problem most nights that lasts for a few days to a few weeks, but goes away

Sometimes insomnia has a clear underlying cause, and sometimes it doesn’t. The major concern with insomnia is severe sleep deprivation.

What is Sleep Paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is an episode where you can’t move your body or speak directly after or directly before sleep, and while you are conscious. It is part of a collection of sleep disorders called parasomnias, which simply indicates that your sleep has some kind of general disruption. In the case of sleep paralysis, your body has trouble transitioning to and from sleep.

During an episode of sleep paralysis you will be:

• Unable to move
• Unable to speak
• Able to move your eyes
• Conscious

Sleep paralysis may be chronic, seldom, or only happen once. It can range from confusing to terrifying, and episodes can last a few seconds, or as long as a couple of minutes. Occasionally, though rare, they may last longer than two minutes. 

Though sleep paralysis can be scary, it’s not dangerous.

What is Sleep Paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is being unable to move or speak during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. Sleep paralysis occurs either right after you wake up, or right before you fall asleep. It is result of your body not smoothly transitioning between stages of wakefulness and sleep. And it can be mildly disconcerting to terrifying, especially if you are unaware what sleep paralysis is. 

When sleep paralysis strikes, you will be unable to move your body, except for your eyes, and unable to speak. It can last only a few seconds or for a couple of minutes, which can be terrifying. Although uncommon, people also report sleep paralysis lasting even longer than two minutes.

What is Somniloquy, or sleep talking? 

Does your bed partner tell you that you whisper, laugh, mumble, or even outright talk in your sleep? Or does your child shout or give long, incomprehensible speeches? This is referred to as sleep talking, or somniloquy.

Unlike many other sleep disorders, which can have serious medical consequences, somniloquy is a parasomnia that is often light hearted. Witnessing someone sleep talking can be funny, charming, startling, vulgar, or strange. But fortunately, there are almost never any medical consequences to sleep talking, other than maybe keeping a bed partner awake.

Sleep talking episodes can last up to 30 seconds, but usually not beyond that [SleepFoundation]. People who sleep talk won’t remember there midnight diatribes the next morning.

Sleep talking can be:

• Mild – sleep talking less than once per week
• Moderate- sleep talking occurs every week but not every night
• Severe – sleep talking occurs nearly every night

Signs of Sleep Deprivation

Experiencing extreme tiredness during the day is a clear indication that you are lacking sufficient sleep. It is widely recommended that adults aim for at least 7 hours of sleep per night, as numerous studies have confirmed its importance. When you consistently fall short of this sleep goal, you enter a state of sleep deprivation.

Probably the biggest sign of sleep deprivation is excessive daytime sleepiness. Other common signs of sleep deprivation include:

• General, abnormal irritability and/or short temper
• Reduced ability to manage stress
• Onset/aggravated anxiety and depression
• Impaired cognitive ability – like chronic brain fog
• Impaired memory

Living with sleep deprivation is often compared to being intoxicated, as both intoxicated and sleep deprived individuals perform similarly on cognitive tests.

The Revolving Circle of Diabetes, Sleep Apnea, and Obesity

The interplay between diabetes, obesity, and sleep apnea is widely acknowledged and cannot be ignored. While it may be unclear which condition is the root cause of the connection, it is evident that they are all interconnected and have a negative impact on each other.

Obesity can exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea, making it more difficult to breathe during sleep. In turn, sleep apnea can worsen diabetes management, leading to complications in blood sugar control. Furthermore, diabetes can hinder weight loss efforts, making it harder to manage obesity.

This vicious cycle can be disheartening, but the good news is that there are various treatments and interventions available to help break this revolving door. There are strategies to address each condition individually and simultaneously, making the management of diabetes, obesity, and sleep apnea more attainable.

It is crucial to consult with healthcare professionals for personalized guidance and treatment options. Our team of sleep specialists can provide expert advice and support in managing sleep apnea effectively.

What are Sleep Attacks?

Sleep attacks are sudden and intense urges to sleep at unusual times, such as in the middle of the day. These urges can range from a sudden feeling of tiredness to an irresistible need to sleep. They are not the same as feeling sleepy after a big meal or due to lack of sleep - sleep attacks strike suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, and can be incredibly powerful.

Due to their unpredictable nature, sleep attacks can be dangerous. For instance, experiencing a sleep attack while driving or operating heavy machinery can lead to accidents and even loss of life. It is crucial for individuals who frequently experience sleep attacks to seek immediate attention from their doctor or a sleep specialist.

What are Parasomnias

Parasomnias are not a single sleep disorder, but rather a collection of sleep disorders that disrupt your circadian rhythm and impact sleep quality. Some parasomnias are nothing more than a nuisance to your bed partner or others in your household.

People often need others to inform them of their parasomnia, as parasomnias may not be remembered in the morning, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, sleep talking, etc.