Why Summer Makes Sleep Apnea Worse

You’ve got sleep apnea (which affects around a billion people worldwide), and summer is rapidly approaching. Why does your sleep quality always get worse right as you need increased energy for vacations, chasing kids around, and surviving the next heat wave.

At SLENT, with locations in Mandeville, Slidell, Covington, and Hammond, Louisiana, our otolaryngology specialists can help with a sleep apnea diagnosis and offer solutions for summertime sleep issues.

Sleep apnea overview

People who have sleep apnea experience a momentary loss of oxygen over and over and over during the night. Breathing is interrupted because the soft tissue at the back of your tongue and top of the throat sag into your airway.

You’re not in any immediate danger, because your brain kicks in and sends a startle response that tightens the muscles in your throat and clears your airway. You start breathing again, you relax and slide deeper into sleep — only to get jolted once more when your throat goes lax again.

While you’re unlikely to even notice what’s going on, someone who sleeps in the same room probably does. It’s likely they’re a bit tired of the constant gasps, snorts, and other noises you make all night. 

Summertime apnea woes

For many people with sleep apnea, summer can be particularly difficult. This is due to two well-known aspects of summertime months: heat and allergies.

One study of people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) revealed that sleep duration and quality went down as ambient temperature in the room went up. When weather outside hovers in triple digits, it can be hard to get the inside of your house cool enough for comfortable sleep — even with AC units running full blast.

Another problem with summertime is seasonal allergies. Stuffy sinuses can turn you into a mouth-breather, letting your jaw slide back and down. This creates the perfect conditions for the back of your throat to slump into your airway and cause a sleep apnea episode.

What to do about worsened sleep apnea in the summer

At SLENT, we have a range of options for those suffering from chronic sleep apnea

• Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy to maintain constant air flow
• Oral appliances or positional therapy to prevent slackening of the jaw and throat
• Surgical options to remove excess tissue and/or reposition the jaw
• InspireⓇ, an implantable option to help your breathing stay consistent while you sleep

Your physician can discuss these options with you and help you decide which solution will work best for your lifestyle.

Are you dreading the approach of summer and worsening sleep apnea? We can help. You can schedule a consultation at SLENT by calling 985-327-5905, or visit our contact page today.