3 Types of Sleep Apnea: 😴 Which One's Strangling You?

Ahoy, my sleepy Sailor! ⛵😴

In my last email...

I exposed the dark underbelly of sleep aids...

and how they can leave you stranded... depressed... and dependent. 🌪️💊

But today, we dive deep into the murky waters of sleep apnea... and the 3 main types that could be secretly strangling your deep sleep. 😨😵

First up, we have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

It's the most common type. 🚧💤 It's like having a giant kraken 🦑 wrap its tentacles around your throat... as it blocks your airway... and causes you to snore louder than a foghorn. 📣😴

Next... there's Central Sleep Apnea (CSA).

It's where your brain 🧠 forgets to send the right signals to your breathing muscles. 📡💤 It's like your body's own version of a mutiny... leaving you gasping for air in the middle of the night. 😮💨

Finally... we have Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CompSAS).

It's a rare but serious condition that combines the worst of both worlds. 🌍💀 It's like having a perfect storm ⛈️ of OSA and CSA... making it even harder to get the restful sleep your body needs to function. 😴💔

But here's the real problem...

Sleep apnea doesn't just leave you feeling tired and groggy the next day. 😴🥱 It can also increase your risk of serious health problems like...

... heart disease

... stroke

... and even cognitive decline. 🫀🧠💔

In fact, studies show that people with severe sleep apnea are up to 3 times more likely to die from heart disease... than those without it. 💔⚰️ [1]

And if you're not getting enough oxygen to your brain 🧠 during sleep...

you could be setting yourself up for memory problems and even dementia down the line. 😵‍💫🤯 [2]

So, what's considered a "healthy" range for sleep apnea? 🤔

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, here's the scoop:

😴 Mild OSA: 5-14 apnea events per hour

😴 Moderate OSA: 15-30 apnea events per hour

😴 Severe OSA: 30+ apnea events per hour [3]

If you suspect you might have sleep apnea, don't let it drag you down to Davy Jones' locker. 💀⚓

Talk to your doctor about getting a sleep study 📝🔍 to diagnose the problem... and find the right treatment plan for you.

Some common TESTS for sleep apnea include:

🌙 Nocturnal Polysomnography: An overnight sleep study that measures your brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing patterns. 📈💤 [4][10][11]

🏠 Home Sleep Apnea Testing: A simplified version of a sleep study that you can do in the comfort of your own bed. 🛏️📝 [5][12]

And if lifestyle changes and other treatments don't work... you might consider one of these SURGICAL OPTIONS:

• 🦷 Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): Removes excess tissue from the back of your throat to widen your airway. 😮💨 [6]
  
  

• 👃 Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA): Moves your jaw forward to create more space for breathing. 😤💪 [7][13][14]
  
  

• 👅 Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation: Implants a small device that stimulates your tongue muscles to keep your airway open during sleep. 😴👅 [8][15][16]
  

Remember, getting enough quality sleep is essential for maintaining your health and avoiding the dangers of sleep apnea. 💤💪 

Aim for 7-9 hours per night... and make sure your bedroom is a quiet... dark... and a cool oasis 🏝️ that promotes restful sleep. [17][18]

In my next email...

I'll share the surprising link between sleep apnea... and a DEADLY ☠️ health condition that affects millions of men. Trust me, you won't want to miss this one! 👀💌

Until then, keep sailing towards the shores of better sleep! ⛵💤

Mens Health Secrets 
–Live Past 100 🌿

P.S. Did you know that sleep apnea can also tank your testosterone levels? 📉🚹 It's true! Studies show that men with sleep apnea have significantly lower T levels than those without it. [9] And we all know what that means... 😉🍆 (Yep, I'm talking about your libido and "little sailor"! ⛵🍆) More on this in my next email! 👀💌

P.P.S. All hands on deck! ⚠️ Don't forget to check with your doctor before trying any new treatments for sleep apnea. This email is for information purposes only, not medical advice. Don't let me catch you sleepwalking into trouble! 😴🚶‍♂️

P.P.P.S. >>> Drop anchor 🚤⚓ at our Mens Health Secrets YouTube channel and subscribe now for even more tips on how to navigate the choppy waters of better health. Leave a comment and let me know what topics you'd like to see me cover next! 🎥💬

Medical References:

[1] Gottlieb, D. J., et al. (2010). Prospective Study of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Heart Failure: The Sleep Heart Health Study. Circulation, 122(4), 352-360. https://doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.109.901801

[2] Gosselin N, Baril AA, Osorio RS, Kaminska M, Carrier J. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Risk of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019 Jan 15;199(2):142-148. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201801-0204PP. PMID: 30113864; PMCID: PMC6943882.

[3] Kapur, V. K., et al. (2017). Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 13(3), 479–504. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6506

[4]Gerstenslager B, Slowik JM. Sleep Study. [Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563147/

[5] Collop, N. A., et al. (2007). Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Unattended Portable Monitors in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adult Patients. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 3(7), 737–747. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.27032

[6] Shepard JW Jr, Olsen KD. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Mayo Clin Proc. 1990 Sep;65(9):1260-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0025-6196(12)62750-5. PMID: 2205764.

[7] Prinsell, J. R. (2002). Maxillomandibular advancement surgery for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Journal of the American Dental Association, 133(11), 1489–1497. https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.2002.0079

[8] Strollo, P. J., et al. (2014). Upper-Airway Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(2), 139–149. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1308659

[9] Wang H, Lu J, Xu L, Yang Y, Meng Y, Li Y, Liu B. Obstructive sleep apnea and serum total testosterone: a system review and meta-analysis. Sleep Breath. 2023 Jun;27(3):789-797. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-022-02655-6. Epub 2022 Jul 29. PMID: 35904664.

[10] Markun LC, Sampat A. Clinician-Focused Overview and Developments in Polysomnography. Curr Sleep Med Rep. 2020;6(4):309-321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-020-00197-5 . Epub 2020 Nov 23. PMID: 33251088; PMCID: PMC7683038.

[11] Rundo JV, Downey R 3rd. Polysomnography. Handb Clin Neurol. 2019;160:381-392. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-64032-1.00025-4. PMID: 31277862.

[12] Punjabi NM, Aurora RN, Patil SP. Home sleep testing for obstructive sleep apnea: one night is enough! Chest. 2013 Feb 1;143(2):291-294. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.12-2699. PMID: 23381307; PMCID: PMC3566993.

[13] Yu MS, Ibrahim B, Riley RW, Liu SY. Maxillomandibular Advancement and Upper Airway Stimulation: Extrapharyngeal Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 Aug;13(3):225-233. https://doi.org/10.21053/ceo.2020.00360. Epub 2020 Jul 21. PMID: 32683836; PMCID: PMC7435433.

[14] Laganà F, Arcuri F, Spinzia A, Bianchi B. Maxillomandibular Advancement for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Long-Term Results of Respiratory Function and Reverse Face-Lift. J Craniofac Surg. 2023 Sep 1;34(6):1760-1765. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0000000000009494. Epub 2023 Jun 16. PMID: 37322594.

[15] Cooper T, Sufyan AS, Aboubakr S. Hypoglossal Stimulation Device. [Updated 2023 Jul 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594264/

[16] Mashaqi S, Patel SI, Combs D, Estep L, Helmick S, Machamer J, Parthasarathy S. The Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation as a Novel Therapy for Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea-A Literature Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 9;18(4):1642. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041642. PMID: 33572156; PMCID: PMC7914469.

[17] Desai D, Momin A, Hirpara P, Jha H, Thaker R, Patel J. Exploring the Role of Circadian Rhythms in Sleep and Recovery: A Review Article. Cureus. 2024 Jun 3;16(6):e61568. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.61568. PMID: 38962617; PMCID: PMC11221196.

[18] Espie CA. The '5 principles' of good sleep health. J Sleep Res. 2022 Jun;31(3):e13502. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13502. Epub 2021 Oct 21. PMID: 34676592; PMCID: PMC9285041.