Mixed sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that has symptoms of two varieties of sleep apnea. Essentially, this condition begins as a long-standing case of obstructive sleep apnea that triggers issues with the central nervous system. Causes for mixed sleep apnea point to genetic predisposition as well as lifestyle choices. Sleep apnea is considered a serious sleep disorder because if left untreated, it can contribute to hypertension, congestive heart failure and premature death.
Facial Structure
Apnea means "gap in breathing," a term that has been in medical dictionaries since the Ancient Greeks. During mixed sleep apnea, this gap in breathing sometimes occurs due to the structure of the throat and the nose. Having a receding chin, an overbite, a narrow jaw, a large tongue and a high palate can cause sleep apnea, as these factors may contribute to insufficient air flow at night. These traits can run in the family, as well.
Weight Gain and Less Exercise
Significant weight gain can contribute to mixed sleep apnea in a number of ways. First, weight gain can cause the neck to thicken, which leads to obstruction of breathing at night. Harvard doctor Stuart Quan reported in the October 2008 edition of Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine that women with diets high in fat and cholesterol have an increased risk of sleep apnea. Quan also discovered that decreased physical activity is a significant risk factor.
Smoking
People who smoke cigarettes are three times more likely to develop sleep apnea compared to those who never smoked, according to the Mayo Clinic. Smoking makes changes in the throat and upper airway, most often as irritation that leads to inflammation. Smoking can also increase fluid retention and thicken mucus production in the upper airway, making it even harder for air to get to the lungs.
Alcohol and Other Depressants
Drinking alcohol and regularly taking drugs that act as respiratory depressants are a major cause of sleep apnea. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse, alcohol actually has several effects. It can loosen the muscle tissues of the throat, narrowing the air passage and increasing the risk of obstructed breathing. Also, because alcohol in large doses is a depressant, it can actually make the gaps in breathing more frequent and longer. The Florida Health Care Administration reports that other drugs that have a similar effect on sleep apnea include barbiturates, narcotic painkillers and anesthetics.
References
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine: Association Found between Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and High Fat Diets and Decreased Physical Activity in Women
- MayoClinic: Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Alcohol and Sleep
- Florida Health Care Administration: Breathing -- stopped or slowed
