Sleep apnea is a condition that causes breathing to stop for brief periods while sleeping. It is a serious condition that can interrupt the ability to get a good night's sleep, leading to daytime fatigue, trouble concentrating and various health problems. Treatment often requires a multidisciplinary approach, including establishing good sleep habits. Reducing caffeine intake may help. Speak with a health care provider about any treatments you are considering.
Identification and Treatment
There are two kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs because the brain does not properly signal the body to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common kind, occurs when your airway is obstructed because the soft tissue at the back of the throat relaxes. Treating this condition often requires lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake. Severe cases may require the use of a CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, device. In addition, it is important to establish good sleep habits to encourage as restful a night's sleep as possible. For some patients, this may require limiting caffeine intake.
Considerations
Caffeine is a substance that is found in beverages, some foods and certain medications. It creates feelings of alertness by stimulating the central nervous system. Everyone's sensitivity to caffeine is different. For some, just a small amount can cause negative effects, while others can consume high amounts with no problems. This means it is necessary for you to find your personal tolerance for caffeine when trying to manage symptoms. For some people, caffeine in any amount can impair the quality of sleep.
Prevention
To help improve sleep quality, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests limiting caffeine intake to no more then 300 to 400 mg per day, which is about three to four 8-oz. cups of coffee. If symptoms continue, you may need to go lower or eliminate caffeine altogether. Do not consume caffeine in the late afternoon or evening, as it can take hours for it to be eliminated from the body. To reduce caffeine consumption, limit your intake of caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, energy or sports drinks and chocolate. Speak with your doctor about any medications you are taking that contain caffeine. With some experimentation, you can identify the amount of caffeine that you can consume without it disrupting sleep.
Solution
While reducing caffeine intake can help, the main objective in treatment for both central and obstructive sleep apnea is to prevent the throat from becoming obstructed and to encourage the brain to send regular signals to breathe. In the case of obstructive sleep apnea, being overweight and having excess fat around the throat area can make this condition worse, so losing excess pounds is important. Avoiding sleeping on your back or using specialized pillows to prop your head up can also help to keep the airway open. Limiting alcohol consumption and medications that act as sedatives are usually necessary with both types, as these substances can relax the airway even further. In some cases, surgery or wearing a mouth piece may be required.
