Sleep apnea is considered severe if it causes your breathing to stop and restart more than 30 times in one hour of sleep.
Sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder. It causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly while you sleep.
There are two types:
- With obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the muscles in your upper airway relax while you’re sleeping. This causes your airways to become blocked off, keeping you from getting enough air. This may cause your breathing to pause until your reflexes initiate breathing to restart.
- With central sleep apnea (CSA), your brain temporarily stops sending the correct signals to the rest of your body to regulate your breathing.
You’re considered to have severe sleep apnea if your breathing stops and restarts more than 30 times an hour.
The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) measures sleep apnea to determine a range from mild to severe, based on the number of breathing pauses per hour you have while sleeping.
| Mild | Moderate | Severe |
| AHI between 5 and 15 episodes per hour | AHI between 15 and 30 | AHI greater than 30 |
Read on to learn more about severe sleep apnea and how it’s treated.
Your bed partner may notice some symptoms of sleep apnea before you’re aware of them, including loud snoring and episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.
Symptoms you both may observe:
- abrupt awakenings from sleep, often accompanied by choking or gasping
- decreased libido
- mood changes or irritability
- nighttime sweating
Symptoms that you might notice:
- daytime sleepiness
- difficulty with concentration and memory
- dry mouth or sore throat
- morning headaches
Left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to numerous short-term and long-term complications and effects on the body. These
Additionally, regular pauses in your breathing can reduce your overall quality of sleep. This can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, as well as irritability and problems concentrating during the day. This may put you at a
The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t recognize sleep apnea as a disability for benefits. It does, however, have listings for breathing disorders, heart problems, and mental deficits that might be attributed to sleep apnea.
If you don’t qualify for the conditions listed, you may still be able to receive benefits through a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form. Both your doctor and a claims examiner from Disability Determination Services will fill out an RFC form to determine whether you’re able to work due to:
- your sleep apnea
- the symptoms of your sleep apnea
- the effects of those symptoms on your day-to-day life
You are at a higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea if you:
- Have overweight or obesity: Although anyone can have sleep apnea, obesity is considered by the American Lung Association (ALA) to be the most important risk factor. Obstructive sleep apnea can also be caused by conditions associated with obesity, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and hypothyroidism.
- Are male: According to the ALA, males are more likely to have sleep apnea than premenopausal females. The risk is about the same for males and females with menopause.
- Have a family history: If sleep apnea has been diagnosed in other family members, you may be at higher risk.
- Are older: According to the ALA, sleep apnea becomes increasingly frequent as you age, leveling off once you reach your 60s and 70s.
- Smoke: Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in people who smoke.
- Have certain medical conditions: Your risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea may increase if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma.
- Have chronic nasal congestion: Obstructive sleep apnea occurs twice as often in people with chronic nasal congestion at night.
- Have a crowded pharynx. Anything that makes the pharynx, or upper airway smaller — such as large tonsils or glands — can result in a greater chance for obstructive sleep apnea.
About 20% of children who snore have obstructive sleep apnea.
Although surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids is the most common treatment for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and oral appliances are also prescribed.
Make an appointment to see a doctor if you or your child are exhibiting any of the symptoms of sleep apnea, especially:
- loud, disruptive snoring
- episodes of stopped breathing while sleeping
- abrupt awakenings from sleep that are frequently accompanied by gasping or choking
A doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist, a medical doctor with additional training and education in sleep medicine.
Treatment for sleep apnea includes lifestyle changes, therapies like positive airway pressure (PAP) devices, and surgery.
Lifestyle changes
Those with an obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis will be encouraged to:
- maintain a moderate weight through regular exercise and diet modification
- quit smoking (this can be difficult but a doctor can create a cessation plan that works for you)
- reduce alcohol consumption
Therapy
Therapies to address sleep apnea include:
- continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or similar devices that use air pressure to keep your airways open during sleep
- oral device or mouthpiece designed to keep your throat open while sleeping
Surgery
Your doctor may recommend surgery, such as:
- uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) to remove tissue to create space
- upper airway stimulation
- jaw surgery to create space
- tracheostomy to open the neck, usually only in the case of life-threatening obstructive sleep apnea
- implants to reduce upper airway collapse
Severe sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that involves breathing that repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep.
If left untreated or undiagnosed, it can have serious and life-threatening consequences. If you’re experiencing any symptoms, make an appointment to see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment options.