Taylor Whitten - Staff Writer
Written and edited by Taylor Whitten. Taylor is a CPAP Patient Educator and Equipment Specialist who brings a powerful combination of personal experience and professional expertise to her writing. As someone who has navigated sleep apnea treatment herself, Taylor offers a unique and empathetic perspective, making her an invaluable resource for readers seeking information about sleep apnea and CPAP therapy.
Our content undergoes rigorous expert review, evidence-based research, and regular updates for accuracy.
One of the most common sleep disorders in the United States, sleep apnea, can impact a person's life in a myriad of ways. But at the same time, lifestyle choices can also have an impact on sleep apnea such as quitting smoking cigarettes.
Some medical experts have discovered a connection between sleep apnea and smoking cigarettes, prompting many to wonder, "can smoking cause sleep apnea?"
As it turns out, the relationship between sleep apnea and smoking goes deeper than it might appear. Here is everything you need to know about the science of smoking cigarettes, stopping smoking, and how sleep apnea and smoking relate to one another.
The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Smoking
To fully understand the development of sleep apnea after quitting smoking, it's helpful to explore the different ways in which these two are related. There are three distinct types of sleep apnea, and each one is connected to smoking cigarettes in a unique way.
The most common form of sleep apnea is a condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). When you are living with OSA, your throat muscles start to relax and cause the tissue in the back of your throat to collapse. When this happens, your upper airway becomes blocked, leading to Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
One of the most serious risks that those with OSA face is a temporary pause in oxygen flow. Irregular breathing patterns during sleep causes the oxygen in your blood to drop to low levels, which can be dangerous. There is a strong link between both insomnia and sleep apnea for those who smoke, putting you at a higher risk of OSA if you currently smoking.
A slightly less common form of sleep apnea is Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), which has a more critical role in brain function. If you have CSA, you are often affected by frequent pauses in your breathing during sleep due to your brain not telling your lungs to breathe. As a result, it isn't uncommon for Central Sleep Apnea to lower your blood oxygen levels. This can lead to headaches and fatigue, which are prominent symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Finally, you may also be living with the least common form of sleep apnea known as Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CompSAS). Those who have been diagnosed with CompSAS experience Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea at the same time. If you've recently quit smoking and have been diagnosed with Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome, it's crucial to seek the help you need to better manage your symptoms and sleep more soundly at night.
Does Smoking Cause Snoring?
According to research on the subject, there is a positive correlation between the amount of smoking one engages in and his or her risk of snoring. Snoring is often a direct result of reduced airflow to the lungs. Since decreased airflow plays a critical part in the development of sleep apnea, many medical experts have cautioned against smoking as a major risk factor for this sleep condition.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when wondering, "can smoking make you snore," is the integral connection between smoking and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. If you decide to quit smoking to reduce your risk of sleep apnea, you can help oxygen flow more easily through your lungs and supply your brain with what it needs to thrive.
Sleep Apnea After Quitting Smoking: What to Know
The main concern surrounding sleep apnea and smoking cigarettes is, "can smoking cause sleep apnea?" However, there is also a significant focus on the opposite effect: that is, whether you can begin to develop sleep apnea after quitting smoking.
The relationship between smoking cessation and sleep apnea is a complex one. After smoking your last cigarette, you may suffer from a wide range of side effects, including tingling, nausea, irritability, headaches, and coughing. However, one of the most prominent side effects of nicotine withdrawal is insomnia.
When suffering from insomnia, you may find yourself experiencing symptoms similar to the symptoms of sleep apnea. You might have trouble staying asleep throughout the night or feel excessively fatigued in the daytime. These troubling effects might lead many former smokers to believe that quitting smoking caused more harm than good.
However, it's vital to keep in mind that the side effects of nicotine withdrawal are merely temporary. In the long term, those who quit smoking enjoy a greater quality of life than those who maintain their habit. This is because once the side effects dissipate, particularly insomnia, you will have an easier time falling asleep while enjoying greater well-being in general.
In addition, smoking is one of the risk factors for developing sleep apnea. If you actively smoke, the symptoms of sleep apnea tend to become progressively worse until they interfere with your daily life.
Finding Relief From Sleep Apnea Caused by Smoking
When it comes to sleep apnea and smoking, these two conditions are closely related on a number of levels. The interruption in oxygen flow that typically defines OSA can be aggravated by smoking.
Once you begin making your health and well-being a priority, you are taking the first steps towards a better night's rest.
