What is it?
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, more commonly known as sleep apnea, is a nocturnal breathing disorder caused by the frequent occurrence of respiratory pauses during sleep. This syndrome is due to repeated obstruction of the respiratory passages at the back of the throat. These breathing pauses typically last between 10 and 30 seconds (or longer in some cases) and occur at least 5 times per hour of sleep.
Among other things, this reduction or interruption of ventilation causes a lack of oxygen, which triggers an unconscious micro-awakening to resume breathing. Thus, sleep apnea results in drowsiness and heavy snoring, leading to fragmented and very disturbed sleep. Sleep apnea can have a significant impact both at night and during the day.
Factors that promote sleep apnea
According to several surveys conducted on people suffering from sleep apnea, it appears that those most likely to suffer from this syndrome are overweight individuals, the elderly, diabetics, pregnant women, people who consume alcohol and tobacco, nasal obstruction caused by allergies, or due to a respiratory tract anomaly.
Symptoms of sleep apnea
At night, the main symptoms of sleep apnea are as follows:
- Severe snoring
- Breathing pauses during sleep (observed by others)
- Restless sleep, gasps, choking sensation
- Non-restorative sleep
- Nightmares concerning imminent death, falling
Consequences of sleep apnea
The consequences associated with sleep apnea are numerous. Indeed, during the day, these include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Mood swings, irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches upon waking
- Daytime sleepiness
Furthermore, in the long term, sleep apnea can also have health repercussions as there is a huge risk of cardiovascular diseases, as well as the risk of increased high blood pressure, strokes, heart failure, heart attacks, etc.
Treatments
The severity of sleep apnea is measured by the number of apneas per hour of sleep. Thus, treatment varies depending on the severity of the apnea.
- Between 5 and 15, it is considered mild sleep apnea
- Between 16 and 30, it is considered moderate sleep apnea
- Over 30, it is considered severe sleep apnea
This number is determined using a special machine that performs continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation, which involves wearing a special mask just before falling asleep to prevent the throat from becoming obstructed and thus prevent snoring and respiratory arrests.
Once the doctor's diagnosis is made, you may need to wear this machine every night. The doctor may also give you some recommendations regarding your lifestyle, such as weight loss, exercise, quitting smoking, adopting a good sleep rhythm, etc. These small changes can contribute to reducing sleep apnea.
→ In conclusion, sleep apnea is not at all trivial, so at the first signs, it is important to consult a specialist as soon as possible.
0 comments