What is the most common cause of UARS?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
musicfreak
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2015 11:06 pm

What is the most common cause of UARS?

Post by musicfreak » Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:37 pm

I ask this because I'm apart of a online support group and they are all constantly talking about having surgeries done to fix their structural or soft tissue issues. I feel like I don't fit into the group as I thought the most common reason of UARS was the tongue falling back in the throat? No one seems to talk about this much which I'm surprised about.

Now I question if I have any structural/soft tissues issues though the Respirologist/internist never said anything when he performed a flexible fibre optic exam of my upper airway in a semi supine position while awake. (Kinda like a drug induced sleep endoscopy). I don't know if this is something I need to explore further or not.

Here's a link to the results of the exam that the doctor did along with pics of my jaw if anyone is interested in looking at it. https://sleeptestresults.wordpress.com/ My previous post explains my trouble with CPAP over the years and this is why I'm questioning other problems with my airway. Thanks.

User avatar
ChicagoGranny
Posts: 14409
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:43 pm
Location: USA

Re: What is the most common cause of UARS?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Sun Jun 05, 2022 3:57 pm

musicfreak wrote:
Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:37 pm
What is the most common cause of UARS?
Narrow airway.

User avatar
lazarus
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2022 3:21 pm
Location: NY

Re: What is the most common cause of UARS?

Post by lazarus » Sun Jun 05, 2022 5:58 pm

It is not well understood. But it seems to be related to a sensitivity of the nervous system and brain to the changes that occur in an unstable airway. That disturbs sleep. Sometimes stabilization of the airway with PAP helps. No surgery stabilizes the entire airway.
Last edited by lazarus on Mon Jun 06, 2022 9:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
The people who confuse "entomology" and "etymology" really bug me beyond words.
---
A love song to a CPAP? Oh please!:
https://youtu.be/_e32lugxno0?si=W4W9EnrZZTD5Ow6p

musicfreak
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2015 11:06 pm

Re: What is the most common cause of UARS?

Post by musicfreak » Sun Jun 05, 2022 11:39 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote:
Sun Jun 05, 2022 3:57 pm
musicfreak wrote:
Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:37 pm
What is the most common cause of UARS?
Narrow airway.
Correct. I was thinking it was more the tongue/jaw relaxing into the airway but you're right the primary cause is a narrow airway. I forgot. I guess it's mainly the throat area but it could be the nose also? I guess people resort to surgery when CPAP doesn't work or they have an abnormality they want to fix.