After a good night’s sleep, sorting out the next day can be a walk in the park. People with fulfilled sleep can handle their daily tasks more energetically than those with sleeping disorders. One of the most common sleep disorders is sleep apnea. Certain factors can make a person more prone to this disorder and one of them is neck size. It might come as a surprise but there is a strong correlation between the size of your neck and the sleep issues you face. This blog will be your guide to the importance of measuring neck circumference for sleep apnea and some essential tips to consider while taking these measurements.

What is Sleep Apnea?

The word “Apnea” is a Greek term for breathlessness. Sleep Apnea refers to a condition in which a person faces difficulty in maintaining their sleep due to breathing difficulties. When you suffer from this disorder, you suddenly stop breathing while asleep and this triggers a survival reflex in your body. The brain sends your body a signal to protect you, causing you to eventually break your sleep. If left unchecked, this condition can get more complicated and stress out the heart. With timely intervention, it can be cured and even prevented from happening again in future.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are few different types of sleep apnea depending upon the triggers and causes of it:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This type of apnea results from an airway blockage. The muscles in your throat relax and narrow the pathway for air flow, preventing it from reaching the lungs. 
• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): It happens when the brain does not properly send away the right signals to the muscles which operate the breathing mechanism. This hindrance of breathing then results in disrupted sleep.  
• Complex Sleep Apnea (TCSA): This is also known as Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea. It happens when a person is originally diagnosed with OSA but during their treatment module, the condition switches to CSA.  

What causes Sleep Apnea? 

These are some factors which increase the risk of sleep apnea: 

• Obesity 

People who are overweight have fat deposits around their neck. These tend to narrow down the air tract and cause breathing problems. 

• Gender 

Before the age of 50, men are at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea whereas after 50, women become more prone to it. 

• Age 

The chances of getting all sleep disorders including sleep apnea increase as people get older.  

• Neck circumference 

The sizes of your neck circumference and air passage are inversely proportional; the broader the neck circumference is, the narrower the air way gets. 

• Nasal congestion 

Nasal congestion or chest congestion disrupt the breathing mechanism. It can cause you to wake up at midnight due to lower oxygen levels in the blood. 

• Family history 

Your genome can also make you susceptible to sleep disorders like apnea. If someone in your family suffered from it, you are more likely to get it. 

• Underlying conditions 

People with medical conditions like heart dysfunction or asthma will most likely develop sleep apnea. 

• Smoking 

Smoking can damage your lungs and as a result cause breathing problem. 

• Alcohol and toxin consumption 

Use of alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers can hinder the seamless breathing mechanism of your body.  

Symptoms of the disorder 

People suffering from sleep apnea share a common series of symptoms, including: 

• Breathlessness during sleep 

• Waking up in small intervals 

• Difficulty maintaining deep sleep  

• Loud snoring 

• Gasping 

• Feeling sleepy after waking up 

• Lack of focus and energy during the day 

• Excessive day-time naps 

• High irritability and frustration 

• Waking up with a very dry mouth 

• Headaches in the day 

The connection between neck circumference and Sleep Apnea 

Studies indicate that neck circumference is a significant factor in assessing the risk of sleep disorders, such as snoring and sleep apnea. This correlation arises from the fact that a larger neck size may lead to an accumulation of tissue around the airway and throat. When the airway becomes constricted, it is more susceptible to collapse, resulting in conditions like hypopneas or snoring. In certain cases, an increased neck size can entirely obstruct the airway, leading to sleep apnea. 

The constraints in breathing result from a squeezed air way and this is where the snoring sound comes from. With a decrease in blood oxygen levels, the individual wakes up with a gasp for air.  

The safe neck circumference: 

The average neck circumference is 16 inches in women and 17 inches in men. A figure larger than the average size is considered risky and may result in sleep apnea.   

Tips for measuring neck circumference: 

• Get a measuring tape that is flexible and easy to read. 
• Stand in front of the mirror to visualize yourself better. 
• Opt for the right posture; not too stiff nor too relaxed.  
• Feel planted to the ground. Keep your head straight and shoulders down. 
• Locate the midpoint of your neck by gently pressing your fingers across your neck. 
• The part that we are interested in lies between Adam’s apple and the base of your neck. 
• Do not place the tape above the larynx as it may give you a wrong reading.  
• Once you have figured out the midpoint, place the measuring tape around the neck. 
• Make sure that the tape is parallel to the ground and snuggles your neck properly. 
• Do not hold the tape too tightly as you may suffocate yourself. 
• Read the measurement from where the start and end of the tape merge. 
• You can either measure in inches or in centimeters. 
• Record the measurements and keep it safe with you. 
• Double-check the reading to ensure accuracy. 
• If the reading is greater than the average value, your neck circumference is probably the cause of your sleep apnea. 

Conclusion:

There is a powerful link between neck circumference and sleep apnea. The excess tissues in a larger neck size overcrowd the air way and throw your breathing mechanism into disarray. It is useful to keep track of the size of one’s neck when they suffer from breathing difficulties or sleep apnea. This way they can conclude whether it is a problematic factor and get treated accordingly. If you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea, you can consider getting home-based sleep apnea testing.