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Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. This means the brain and the rest of the body may not get enough oxygen.
Types of Sleep Apnea:
1. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA):
2. Central sleep apnea: (CSA)
Risk factors: Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. Risk factors for sleep apnea include:
1. Being male
2. Being overweight.
3. Being over age 40
4. Having a large neck size( 17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)
5. Having large tonsils, a large tongue, or a small jaw bone.
6. Having a family history of apnea
7. Nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies, or sinus problems
What are the effects of Sleep Apnea: If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of health problems, including:
1. High blood pressure
2. Stroke
3. Heart failures, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks.
4. Diabetes
5. Depression
6. Worsening of ADHD
7. Headaches
Symptoms
1. Waking up with a very sore or dry throat
2. Loud snoring
3. Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
4. Sleepiness or lack of energy during the day.
5. Sleepiness while driving
6. Morning headaches
7. Restless sleep
8. Forgetfulness, mood changes
9. Recurrent awakening or insomnia
Diagnosis: If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, your doctor may ask you to have a sleep apnea test, called polysomnogram.
The recordings are analyzed by a qualified sleep specialist to determine whether or not you have sleep apnea or another type of sleep disorder.
The Sleep Study: On the night when the test is conducted, the patient is assigned a private bedroom in the sleep centre or hospital. Near the bedroom, central monitoring area is placed where the technicians monitor sleeping patients.
Other Tests of Sleep Apnea:
1. EEG (electroencephalogram)
2. EMG (electromyogram) to record muscle activity such as face twitches, teeth grinding, and leg movements and to determine the presence of REM stage sleep. During REM sleep, intense dreams often occur as the brain undergoes heightened activity.
EOG (electrooculogram) to record eye movements. These movements are important in determining the different sleep stages, particularly REM stage sleep.
ECG to record heart rate and rhythm
Nasal airflow sensor to record airflow
Snore microphone to record snoring activity.
Treatments: Sleep apnea treatments range from lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or changing sleep positions, to CPAP therapy, to surgery.
Treating Sleep at home
You may be able to treat mild cases of sleep apnea by changing your behaviour. For example:
Losing weight
Avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills
Changing sleep positions to improve breathing
Stopping smoking. Smoking can increase the swelling in the upper airway Avoiding sleeping on the back.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
It is a treatment in which a mask is worn over the nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The mask is hooked up to a machine that delivers a continuous flow of air into the nose. This airflow helps in keeping the airways open so that breathing is regular.
There is also bi-level positive airway pressure or BPAP which is similar to CPAP but the air flows changes when you breathe in or breathe out.
Sleep Apnea and Dental devices: Dental devices can be made that help keep the airway open during sleep. Such devices can be specifically designed by dentists with special expertise in treating sleep apnea
Surgery For Sleep Apnea: If the patient has a deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils, or a small lower jaw with an overbite causing the throat to be narrow, surgery may be needed to correct sleep apnea.
The most commonly performed types of surgery for sleep apnea, including
Nasal surgery: Correction of nasal problems such as a deviated septum
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): A procedure that removes soft tissue on the back of the throat and palate, increasing the width of the airway at the opening of the throat.
Mandibular maxillomandibular advancement surgery: Surgery to correct certain facial problems or throat obstructions that contribute to sleep apnea.
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