Sleep apnea is an increasingly common and serious sleep disorder. It’s often characterized by loud snoring, but not everybody knows it. Many people find out because partners complain about their snoring and other noises during the night. When sleep apnea is left untreated, it could cause many health issues without you knowing. Patients with sleep apnea stop breathing during the night. This could happen hundreds of times. The body is deprived of essential oxygen, and it also faces stress when your body realizes you’re not breathing. While it might not wake you up completely, your REM sleep is disrupted every time you start breathing again. Sleep apnea isn’t just one disorder. There are two types you can experience:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This is the more common type of sleep apnea. The airway is blocked when the soft tissue collapses in the back of the throat.

• Central Sleep Apnea: Central sleep apnea isn’t caused by a blocked airway. The brain doesn’t tell the muscles to breathe throughout the night. The respiratory control center then becomes unstable.

What kind of people is susceptible to sleep apnea? Men and obese patients are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, especially after 40. When the neck is 17” or more in men or 16” in women, it can significantly increase your risk. Some conditions like gastroesophageal reflux, deviated septum, or allergies also increase your risk. This complex condition isn’t always diagnosed, but it requires one treatment. Doctors have to fit patients with a CPAP machine and calibrate the oxygen levels. What else do you need to know about sleep apnea?

1. It Doesn’t Just Affect Old People

Sleep apnea can affect people of any age. Sometimes, patients are more genetically susceptible. With the increasing rate of obesity, patients are more likely to develop sleep apnea at a younger age. Some populations like truck drivers face a greater risk of drowsy driving and other problems. If you find yourself tired all the time even though you get a full eight hours of sleep, it’s never too early to get tested.

No matter your age, you can take steps to address the risk. Things like eating healthy and exercising can help you reduce your risk of death. If you have type 2 diabetes, you should also use the necessary insulin and other prescriptions. Over time, you might need to make changes to your CPAP machine. It can worsen with age. So always keep an eye on your condition and talk to doctors if things change.

2. It’s Easy to Determine

Sometimes, people have an easier time diagnosing sleep apnea. If you have a partner who sleeps near you, they might tell you about your snoring. Many times, people come in for testing when they realize they’re tired despite getting enough sleep. Sleep apnea can also be connected to health conditions like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Long haul truck drivers and some others should be tested regularly. When you’re tested, doctors monitor oxygen levels and other vitals. Medical professionals test for a range of sleep disorders. One of the simplest disorders to diagnose is sleep apnea. Once it’s diagnosed, treatment is standard. It’s just a matter of customizing the treatment to you with the right sleeping test.

3. It’s Based on Your ODI (Oxygen Desaturation Index)

First, you schedule a sleep study for obstructive sleep apnea. Then doctors and technicians use a measurement known as the ODI (oxygen desaturation index). The ODI is defined as the number of times the blood oxygen level drops by a certain amount during an hour of sleep. It’s often a part of polysomnograms, home sleep apnea tests, and overnight oximetry. Even just 3% drops can be severely problematic. Some insurance companies still require at least 4%. When sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing, the drops are known as desaturations. If you have sleep apnea, this happens repeatedly.

ODI is not the same as the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The AHI focuses on arousals, but it doesn’t measure oxygen levels. ODI is often worse when you have underlying conditions like sleep apnea or lung disease.

4. You’re Not Immune Because of Your Race

People of any race can suffer from sleep apnea. The frequency varies between races. A recent study shows obstructive sleep apnea is more common in African-American men. This was true even after controlling for body mass index within certain age ranges. The study at Wayne State University School of Medicine shows the AHI was the same between African-American and white women. Between ages 50 and 59, African-American men saw a significant increase in risk. African-American men younger than 40 saw the same increase of 3.21 breathing pauses.

The research included 512 patients between July 1996 and February 1999. Patients had to be at least 18 years old. Researchers looked for individuals with an AHI over five events per hour of sleep. Researchers performed a statistical analysis with 340 African American and 172 Caucasian subjects. Researchers suggest anatomic differences can play a role. The upper airway and neurochemical control of breathing can vary.

5. Sleep Apnea Can Be Lethal

Sleep apnea patients stop breathing during the night. This can be dangerous on its own. It can also be lethal in other ways. Fatigued driving can increase your risk of getting into a fatal car accident. Sleep apnea also contributes to a range of serious health issues. Patients suffer from a higher risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. All these things can contribute to a higher risk of an early death.

With the proper treatment, you can eliminate this risk. You still need to make healthy lifestyle changes to address issues like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Your doctor can make recommendations or referrals as needed. Once you get tested, a properly calibrated CPAP machine can be the next step to address the sometimes lethal risks of sleep apnea.