What is Sleep Apnea

Are feel sleepy all the time? Do not you snore? Is your doctor having a difficult time treating high blood pressure? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you might have Sleep Apnea (also called Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA).

Sleep Apnea is a condition involving pauses or decreases in breathing during sleep. It is usually due to airway collapse. This collapse occurs in the nose and / or throat – anywhere from where air enters the nostrils to the back of the tongue. Imagine a straw collapsing when you try to suck a thick milkshake. Frequently, this airway collapsibility problem is inherited and starts in childhood. During the day, is not a problem because there is a good muscle tone in the airway and the brain controls breathing. But at night, the throat muscles become relaxed and the brain is not so attentive to the airway. Thus, by inhalation, the airway walls may collapse completely or significantly restricted. This is a problem because 1) the body struggles to breathe and 2) the brain must “wake up” to reopen the airway.

These awakenings lead to fragmentation of nighttime sleep. Maybe not remember them because they are so short. In fact, patients with sleep apnea may wake up more than 30 times an hour and think that they slept uninterrupted through the night. Since sleep must be continuous and consolidated in order to be restorative, a number of cognitive problems can occur with sleep fragmentation: daytime sleepiness, impaired memory, impaired concentration, emotional instability, irritability, slowed reaction times and, above all , an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents.

There are also cardiovascular consequences of this constant “struggling to breathe.” This puts a strain on the heart and blood vessels, leading to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Finally, there are social implications to Sleep Apnea. Snoring associated with sleep apnea may disturb the sleep of others. In fact, one study showed that when a person considers his sleep apnea, the sleep partner gets the equivalent of an extra hour to sleep night.

Sleep apnea is a progressive disease and often worsens with age. Weight gain, alcohol and other sedating / relaxing substances exacerbate it.

Who Gets Sleep Apnea?

A common misconception is that only overweight people who have sleep apnea snore strongly, but the facts are as follows:

1) Sleep apnea can occur without snoring

72) thin people can have sleep apnea

73) Women can have sleep apnea

74) I can sleep apnea

In other words, anyone can have. Even thin. Even children.

I I could have sleep apnea, how do I know if I have it?

Make an appointment with the doctor, or if your insurance allows it, go directly to a sleep specialist. If your doctor thinks you might have sleep apnea, then he / she may be referred for a sleep study or comprehensive sleep evaluation.

How is Sleep Apnea treated?

There are four main categories of treatment for sleep apnea: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Oral Surgery and behavioral Modification.

Appliances

The most effective way to treat sleep apnea is CPAP. CPAP is a mask worn over the nose attached by a tube of an air compressor. The air compressor gently and quietly blows room air into the nose, which “stents,” the airway open, preventing airway collapse. This is the most effective way to treat sleep apnea, and all patients diagnosed with sleep apnea should at least try before considering other options.

Surgery can be an effective way to treat sleep apnea. A number of different procedures can be performed. These range from the repair of the nasal septum for the reconstruction of the mandible. Talk to your doctor if the surgery is the right option for you.

An oral appliance is a device made by a dentist or an orthodontist designed to pull your lower jaw forward. Pulling out your jaw, the tongue is pulled out from the back of the throat. If your airway obstruction occurs behind the tongue, then this can be an effective way to treat sleep apnea. The treatment of sleep apnea with oral appliances should be a coordinated effort between the sleep physician, the dentist / orthodontist and patient.

Behavioral changes can help in the treatment of sleep apnea, but they are usually the least effective. These include techniques such as weight loss, sleeping on one side, and avoiding alcohol before bedtime.

None of these treatment options is ideal, but all may be useful in treating sleep apnea and resulting in more restful sleep. With risks like heart attack and stroke, you must do everything possible to get your sleep apnea under control. If you think you have sleep apnea, contact your doctor or go to a sleep center. It could be the best decision you ever made.

Tags: obstructive sleep apnea treatment, apnea, treatment for sleep apnea

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