Q: How do I know if I have sleep apnea? Is it dangerous?

Dr. Eri Shimizu, Internist and Functional Medicine, Olena Center for Health and Wellness: Sleep apnea is a disorder when your breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. While sleep apnea by itself isn’t dangerous (you’re not going to stop breathing entirely while you’re asleep), untreated, it can lead to serious health problems.

There are three kinds of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and occurs when tissues in the throat relax and temporarily block the airway. This obstruction is more common in persons who are overweight, have large necks, are male and are over 50, although normal-weight individuals and females can also have obstruction. Central sleep apnea is related to the brain signals that control breathing. And complex sleep apnea syndrome is a combination of the two.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Snoring.

• Gasping for air while you sleep.

• Waking up in the night.

• Significant daytime sleepiness.

• Morning headache.

• Waking up with a dry mouth.

• Trouble focusing and irritability.

Other signs that suggest you may have sleep apnea include nighttime teeth grinding and, if you sleep with a partner, they may witness you stop breathing momentarily during the night.

Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to severe complications. This can include hypertension, heart problems, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and liver problems. In addition, many people with sleep apnea struggle with severe daytime sleepiness, increasing their risk of falling asleep while driving or other fatigue-related accidents. Sleep apnea also has the potential to cause relationship problems, as partners may end up sleeping in separate areas to avoid disturbance caused by snoring.

One of the most problematic things with sleep apnea, particularly obstructive sleep apnea, is that it can create a vicious cycle. The sleep disruptions caused by sleep apnea can lead to weight gain and worsening airway obstruction, thus creating more sleep apnea. It is crucial to break the vicious cycle!

If you think you have sleep apnea, talk with your health provider. A specialist can give you a sleep test to diagnose and determine your type of sleep apnea. Once diagnosed, your provider can recommend the proper treatment for you. Treatment options include wearing a device to help open your airway during sleep.

The most commonly recommended device is a CPAP — a continuous positive airway machine. These devices are worn over the mouth or nose and blow air into your airway, creating pressure to keep the airway open. These devices may initially be uncomfortable and can take getting used to. My biggest advice to patients is to be patient and stick with it. To optimize its function and comfort, your provider can recommend adjustments to the device, such as changing the pressure level, mask type and humidification. In addition, your provider may recommend lip taping, nasal decongestants and treatments to address mask-wearing anxiety. If CPAP is not successful for you after that, don’t give up! You may benefit from orthodontic devices, orthodontic corrections or surgery to correct an issue inside your throat, depending on your anatomy.

Additionally, and arguably, most importantly, lifestyle changes to your diet, stress and exercise can improve underlying obstructive sleep apnea in the long term. In my work as both a board-certified internist and functional medicine practitioner, I’ve seen greatly improved outcomes when taking a comprehensive health approach that focuses on identifying and understanding the root causes of a disease or health issue. This includes a deep dive into a patient’s medical history, and advanced testing to uncover other underlying factors such as gut health, metabolism, hormones, environmental influences and genetics. So these are very important things to address with your health provider.

The bottom line is sleep apnea is a serious medical condition, but it’s also treatable. It’s essential to be informed and understand your risk. You can take the first step by talking with your health provider if you think you have sleep apnea. For more information on some of the underlying issues that could be affecting your sleep, visit www.olenacenter.com/patienteducation.

* Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in Healthwise Maui, which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana’i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth.org/healthwise.