Top 6 Sleep Apnea Myths

This was sent to me by a friend who also suffers from this illness. I thought it was worth posting here.

Top 6 Sleep Apnea Myths
There are plenty of myths floating around the internet about sleep apnea – what sort of people get sleep apnea, whether you have other problems alongside sleep apnea and whether you can get sleep apnea when you’re a child. Today, I attempt to dispel some of the sleep apnea myths and help you understand this complex sleep disorder.


You Have to Be Overweight to Get Sleep Apnea

Surprisingly, this is one of the most common sleep apnea myths out there and it is entirely false. Being overweight does play a part in many sleep apnea cases, as it causes excessive soft tissue in the back of the throat to fall into your airways during sleep which restricts air flow and the ability to breathe. However, there are also many other causes of sleep apnea, including enlarged soft tissue in the throat – swollen adenoids and tonsils are one such cause. You can also have sleep apnea if you have a genetic defect – this is called central apnea, and it’s caused because one of the mechanisms that controls breathing is faulty. This apnea can happen in the daytime, too.

Only Old People Get Sleep Apnea

Another myth floating round is that only people over the age of 50 who are overweight get sleep apnea. There is a slightly higher risk of sleep apnea in these individuals, but they are NOT the only people that have sleep apnea. In fact, new born babies can have sleep apnea if they have a congenital defect or if they are born prematurely. Young children can develop sleep apnea when they have swollen tonsils or adenoids, and teenagers can also develop sleep apnea. Anyone at any age can get sleep apnea, not just those over 60.

Sleep Apnea Only Affects Men

Another entirely incorrect myth. In fact, it’s estimated that over 6 million American women suffer from sleep apnea, which tells you that a significant number of women all over the world suffer from apnoeic episodes. There is also a type of sleep apnea, gestational sleep apnea, which develops in women during pregnancy.

Sleep Apnea Just Makes You Tired

Some people think that sleep apnea stops you having a good night’s sleep and therefore, all you are is a bit tired. However, sleep apnea can cause a huge number of medical problems because of the strain that lack of oxygen puts on your heart, lungs, and blood pressure. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and sexual dysfunction are just some of the health problems related to sleep apnea. In fact, a study done recently shows that the people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are three times more likely to die from any cause than those not suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Doesn’t Affect You during the Daytime

Having unrefreshing sleep every single night really does affect you every single day of your life. It not only leaves you exhausted, but it can cause depression, anxiety attacks, and it really slows down your reactions. It’s actually been found that a sleep deficit of four hours puts you at the same cognitive level as someone who is legally drunk – therefore, you should not really be driving if you have those sorts of cognitive difficulties. You could also have problems adding up, speaking and thinking, along with a whole host of other cognitive problems.

It’s Only Snoring

Sleep apnea sounds like snoring to people who don’t suffer from it. If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, your partner will hear you snoring and gasping for breath and they may just dismiss it as a normal part of sleep. The difference is, those with sleep apnea will snore and gasp for breath, disturbing their sleep, not just once or twice, but literally hundreds of times during the night.


Laura