According to the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) sleep apnea affects more than twelve million Americans. Sleep apnea statistics show that those suffering with sleep apnea include people of all ages, race, and gender. Through years of research and hundreds of studies the American Sleep Apnea Association has raised greater awareness of the many causes of sleep apnea with more being found each year.Today there are two major classifications of sleep apnea which include obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. There are significant differences in these two groups as each have their own causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea is described as a momentary disturbance of breathing during sleep due to loss of the central respiratory drive. This disturbance causes a stall in breathing triggering the body to react as if air supply has been completely shut off.

This type of sleep apnea causes includes neurological disorders such as stroke and Alzheimer, heart failure and uremia. There has also been a link to the use of sedatives and alcohol which both naturally decrease respiration in people of all ages.

Some of the known causes of central sleep apnea include:

  • Obesity
  • Underdeveloped Lungs
  • Heart Conditions
  • Malnutrition
  • Lack of Proper Exercise
  • Enlarged Tonsils
  • Smoking or Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common of the two types. Described as an intermittent interruption in breathing during sleep due to what is termed airway obstruction, obstructive sleep apnea causes pulmonary hypertension and contributes to cardiac and vascular complications. When left untreated obstructive sleep apnea can cause severe health problems in its sufferers, sometimes escalating to fatal conditions involving irreversible damage to the heart.

Some of the known causes of obstructive sleep apnea include:

  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Obesity
  • Large neck circumference
  • Lack of Proper Sleep Patterns
  • Vascular Disease
  • Excessive Use of Alcohol or Drugs

Who Discovered Sleep Apnea?
The first medical reports of obstructive sleep apnea were on or around 1965. It was not discovered by any one physician in particular as many were working hard to find the cause of various sleeping problems. The first person to revolutionize treatment was Colin Sullivan in Sydney, Australia.