"We know that being overweight is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, but what are the other risk factors?", asks us Regis Msallam on our page Facebook. This is our reader question of the week. Thank you all for your participation.
What is sleep apnea?
First described in the 1970s by a Marseille neurologist, Dr. Christian Guilleminault, sleep apnea syndrome – also called obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (or OSAHS) – affects 4% of the French population.
This is a disorder of nocturnal ventilation due to the occurrence of abnormally frequent episodes of interruptions in breathing during sleep (when these are not interruptions but reductions, we do not speak of apneas but of hypopneas). These breathing pauses last from 10 to 30 seconds, or even more, occur at least 5 times per hour of sleep and can be repeated a hundred times per night.
These apneas are due to repeated complete or partial obstructions of the respiratory passages in the back of the throat (upper airways) occurring during sleep.
This interruption of ventilation during sleep causes a lack of oxygen. The brain reacts and the person wakes up briefly to start breathing again, without being aware of it (this is called “micro-awakenings”).
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This syndrome is associated with a Night snoring and daytime sleepiness, a consequence of very disturbed, jerky and poor quality sleep. Other effects include difficulty concentrating, memory, mood and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, heart failure, etc.)
Sleep apnea: from mild to severe
The severity of sleep apnea syndrome is measured by the number of apneas/hypopneas per hour of sleep (the AHI stands for “apnea/hypopnea index”):
– if the AHI is between 5 and 15, sleep apnea is mild
– if the AHI is between 16 and 30, sleep apnea is moderate
– if the AHI is greater than 30, sleep apnea is severe.
Is being overweight really a major risk factor?
As the site indicates Ameli (Health insurance), "Overweight and especially obesity are major risk factors. Fatty infiltration of the tissues around the pharynx promotes obstruction of the upper airways during sleep." And the numbers confirm it: "70% of people with OSAHS are overweight and the risk increases further if the person is obese. Sleep apnea is also observed in obese children or adolescents," is indicated on the information site (read the box below).
However, overweight and obesity are not the only risk factors to consider.
Read alsoIn 20 years, overweight and obesity have increased among the French
What are other factors that contribute to sleep apnea?
- THE Sex : men are twice as exposed as women. However, the frequency of OSA increases after the menopause.
- L'Age : sleep apnea is more common with aging (it is estimated that 30% of people over 65 are affected).
- THE ENT anomalies : a more or less permanent nasal obstruction, the consequence of ENT, surgical or allergic problems, or anomalies in the size and position of the jaw (mandible too small for example), the tongue (very large tongue) and the palate (large uvula or tonsils, etc.).
- THE lifestyle habits : alcohol and tobacco consumption, taking sedatives can aggravate symptoms.
Men are twice as exposed as women. Credits: CAIA IMAGE / Science Photo Library / New / Science Photo Library through AFP
Sleep apnea is not just for adults
Sleep apnea affects nearly 2% of children aged two to six years. In most cases, it is associated with large tonsils and hypertrophy of the adenoids. Sometimes, it is due to malformations of the jaws and face (narrow nasal passages, insufficiently developed lower jaw, etc.).
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