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Permalink Reply by Steven Y. Park, MD on March 30, 2009 at 11:10am

Ruth,

You bring up an interesting question (is it our destiny to have sleep apnea), and my answer is, to a certain degree, yes. In my book, Sleep, Interrupted, I propose that all modern humans are susceptible to problems breathing at night to various degrees. All of us are on a continuum, rather than either having or not having sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is the extreme end of this continuum. Part of the reasons for this include our ability to talk and communicate, our modern Western diets, and possibly even the physical act of using a bottle during infancy. All these factors (including genetic factors) lead to anatomic changes, which then later on predisposes to inflammation. Inflammation causes more swelling in this upper airways, leading to more obstruction. Poor sleep aggravates weight gain. Weight gain narrows the throat even further. As we age, soft tissues tend to sag more and more due to gravity. All this leads to poor quality sleep and not ever feeling refreshed in the morning.

On top of anatomy, how we live our lives and what we put into our bodies also makes a dramatic impact on our sleep-breathing status. Processed foods and refined sugars causes more inflammation, and the stresses of modern society don't help either. Poor breathing during sleep also causes a physiological stress state, which makes you more susceptible to external stresses. This leads to your nervous system being en garde and hypersensitive all the time. This can be controlled somewhat with exercise and other forms of relaxation, such as yoga, breathing exercises, or meditation.

I sometimes wonder if people who push themselves during the day are doing it subconsciously to stay active and awake, in order to overcome their chronic fatigue and lethargy.

Lastly, the next time you run into some in their 90s who are completely healthy and have very active lives with lots of energy, take a look at their jaws—more likely than not, they'll be wide and well developed, and the tongue won't take up as much space inside the mouth.

There are lots of other variables that can affect your susceptibility to sleep-breathing problems later in life, but what I mentioned is a good start.

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Permalink Reply by Ruth Rayceen on March 30, 2009 at 11:28am

Dr Park, Everyone on this forum will thank you for listing the things we can change and other bodily characteristics that give us more of a challeng. But you clearly state, eating natural food, eliminating sugars, etc getting exercise, and doing meditation are healthy behaviors. We can review our life styles and your information determine how kind we are being to ourselves. Actually, I think humans take less tender loving cre of their bodies, than they do their pets. RR

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on March 30, 2009 at 11:35am

I personally believe that good health comes from a healthy balance of a few different things. Exercise, diet, and a good night's rest would have to be the basis( in my belief system). These things balanced with our personal,mental, and social needs should make for a pretty good life. The one thing that I am trying to teach my girls is moderation. I believe that it is the lack of that has lead to my problems and so many others that I know and care about.

As far as apnea and sleep related breathing problems go, we are prone to them from birth. Along with age and weight being their biggest adversaries, I believe that it is our life choices that decide when we are going to get hit with the blunt end of them. Apnea is eventually going to effect all of us at one point or another. For some it is early in life, and for others it is later. I honeslty think that it is our lifestyles that decide which for the most part. If you live an unhealthy life, smoke, carry alot of weight, allow your body to go without exercise, have a drinking or drug problem you are going to be more susceptible to apnea and many more health problems. Life has enough challenges without keeping a healthy balance.

Having said all of that I will tell you that it is alot easier to preach these things than it is to practice. I have had problems with most of the bad habits that I mentioned above in the past. At 35 I have apnea, and a few other problems. I am learning moderation WITH my kids. I am re-teaching myself these good habits in hope that my kids and the next generation of my family don't carry on my bad habits, and hopefully lead healthier lives.

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Permalink Reply by Ruth Rayceen on March 30, 2009 at 12:54pm

Rod, I can tell you we share one unhealthy habit. I am not moderate, either. I wasn't in my professional life, and my dh says I don't know how to take it easy. It originated as a positive part of my character, good idea, followed by fairly effecient planning. When It got to the work part, Ilost it. It was over do all the way. I hope I can take a point from you and retrain my self to be creative, but to set limits, limits I have ignored for years. I wish you success with your family. RR

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Permalink Reply by Mike on March 30, 2009 at 2:33pm

Ruth mentioned that she had a type-A personality. I share that personality trait -- perfect overachiever. It wasn't until my 30s that my hard driving lifestyle caught up with me. The first time i became aware of my sleep apnea was in the midst of a string of 80-hour work weeks at my law firm (i am a corporate lawyer by training). I woke up in a panic feeling as if I were suffocating. Dismissed it at first as a panic attack -- something psychological -- but then discussed it with a friend who made me aware of sleep apnea... i had never heard of it before. this was only a couple of years ago.

similarly, my friend developed his sleep apnea when he was living in NYC right after the 9-11 attacks.

My case and his make me wonder about the role stress plays in bringing about sleep apnea.

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