What Are The Complications Of Acromegaly?

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where a patient's breathing repeatedly starts and stops throughout the night when they are asleep. Three main types of sleep apnea are called obstructive, central, and complex sleep apnea. The most common manifestation of this disorder in individuals affected by acromegaly is obstructive sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea happens when the muscles in the throat relax, and the airway closes or narrows as the patient inhales. The result of this is the individual cannot get enough air, which effectively lowers blood oxygen levels. The patient's brain is able to sense they are not breathing normally, and it signals them to wake up to reopen the airway. Changes in the structure of the bones that surround the upper airway can occur as a result of too much growth hormones in the body. Soft-tissue changes may also occur in the region of the upper airway as a result of excess growth hormones. These changes are what causes the blockage in the patient's airway when they inhale, and the throat relaxes. This mechanism results in obstructive sleep apnea.