Adult Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes very shallow during sleep. The most common type in adults is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the throat narrows or collapses during sleep, blocking airflow and causing snoring, gasping, and pauses in breathing.

Sleep apnea is very common in adults aged 30-70 and affects both men and women, especially those with risk factors such as obesity, a large neck, a small lower jaw, or a large tongue. Each pause in breathing can last 10 seconds or longer and may occur hundreds of times a night, lowering blood oxygen levels and repeatedly disrupting deep, restorative sleep.

Untreated adult sleep apnea is much more serious than being sent to the couch for loud snoring. Each time your airway closes, oxygen levels drop, stress hormones surge, and inflammatory chemicals are released, which can damage the heart, blood vessels, and brain over time. Health risks linked to untreated sleep apnea include:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Difficulty controlling diabetes
• Mood disorders, anxiety, and depression
• Insomnia and poor sleep quality
• Erectile dysfunction
• Increased risk of motor vehicle and work accidents

People with sleep apnea often notice fatigue, memory problems, poor concentration, or reduced coordination that can interfere with driving, work, or sports. Effective sleep apnea treatment can lower these risks and help you feel more energetic and focused during the day.

Many adults do not realize they have sleep apnea until a partner or family member notices symptoms at night. Recognizing these warning signs is an important first step toward getting help at a specialized sleep clinic. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud, frequent snoring (often heard through a closed door)
• Pauses in breathing during sleep
• Gasping, choking, or snorting awakenings
• Waking up with a dry mouth, headache, or sore throat
• Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
• Feeling unrefreshed even after a full night in bed
• Memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or attention deficits
• Irritability, mood changes, or depression

Common physical signs and risk factors include:

• Large neck size
• Obesity or recent weight gain
• Small lower jaw or crowded throat
• Large tongue
• High blood pressure
• Use of alcohol or sedative medications before bed
• Hormonal changes, including menopause

If you recognize several of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, schedule a sleep apnea evaluation at the Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

There are two main types of sleep apnea seen in adults, and some patients have a combination of both. A detailed sleep study helps determine which type you have and guides the most effective treatment plan.

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): The throat closes or narrows during sleep due to extra tissue in the throat, a large tongue, a small lower jaw, or increased collapsibility of the airway. Age, weight gain, and alcohol or sleeping pills can all make OSA worse.
• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): The brain temporarily fails to send the proper signals to the breathing muscles, so breathing pauses occur without a blocked airway. Central apnea is often associated with opioid pain medications, heart failure, serious neurologic disease, or overly aggressive treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Both types lead to drops in blood oxygen and repeated sleep disruption, which can harm the heart, brain, and other organs if left untreated. Our sleep clinic will determine which type you have and recommend tailored treatment options.

The most accurate way to diagnose adult sleep apnea is with a sleep study (polysomnography) performed in an accredited sleep clinic. At the Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute in Sterling Heights, we offer both in‑center sleep testing and home sleep apnea testing, depending on your needs and insurance requirements.

In‑Center Sleep Study at Our Sterling Heights Sleep Clinic

For many adults, an overnight study in our sleep center is the best way to diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. You will sleep in a comfortable bed in a private, hotel‑like room (not a hospital ward) while our experienced sleep technologists monitor you throughout the night. During the painless test, small sensors are placed on your skin to record:

• Brain waves (to measure sleep stages)
• Eye movements
• Chin and muscle activity
• Breathing effort and airflow
• Heart rhythm (ECG)
• Blood oxygen levels
• Leg movements

The sleep study measures how often your breathing stops or becomes shallow, how low your oxygen levels fall, and how sleep apnea is affecting your sleep and heart rhythm. This detailed information allows your sleep medicine doctor to make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the best sleep apnea treatment.

Home Sleep Apnea Testing

Home sleep apnea tests can be a convenient first step for some adults with suspected moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Our team will show you how to use a small portable device that records breathing effort, airflow, blood oxygen, and heart rate while you sleep at home.

Home tests do not measure actual sleep time or sleep stages, and if you are awake for part of the night, the results can underestimate the severity of sleep apnea. If a home test is negative or inconclusive but symptoms are strong, an in‑center sleep study (polysomnography) at our Sterling Heights sleep clinic is usually required to confidently rule out or confirm sleep apnea.