A Greek term “apnea” literally means “without breath.” Sleep Apnea is a severe sleep disorder that happens when a person’s breathing ceases for a period of 10 seconds or more in sleep. It could be moderate, mild or even severe, based on the number of times an hour, a person’s breathing ceases (apnea) or gets extremely slowly (hypopnea). Apnea episodes can occur anywhere in a range of 5-50 times in an hour.
Based on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) sleep apnea is a problem that affects approximately twelve million Americans. But due to an absence of public awareness and an absence of knowledge from health professionals, it is believed that the majority of cases go undiagnosed, despite the severity of the condition and the effects.
There are three kinds of sleep apnea, namely obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as well as central sleep apnea (CSA) or mixed sleep apnea (MSA). OSA is considered to be the most prevalent kind of sleep apnea. It can be caused due to a narrowing in the airway. This usually occurs when the soft tissue that lines the back of the throat shrinks and is closed when you sleep. In CSA the airway isn’t blocked, but the brain is unable to instruct breathing muscles because of an instability in the breathing control centre. Mixed apnea can be described as a mix of both.
What are the consequences?
In every type of apnea the brain temporarily wakes people, prompting them to begin breathing again, which causes unreliable, low quality sleep. In the end, sleep apnea can also lead to low performance in daily tasks, like school or work motor vehicle accidensa as well as academic failure among adolescents and children.
If not treated sleep apnea may cause an increase in the frequency of health issues, including hypertension, stroke , heart failure irregular heartbeats, as well as heart attacks. Furthermore, memory problems as well as headaches, weight gain, and even impotency, can happen because of sleep apnea if it is not treated.
Who is at risk?
Sleep apnea is a problem that can strike all ages and even children. However, the risk factors include:
Being overweight
Large neck sizes (17 inches or more in males and 16 inches or more in women)
Male gender
Over the age of forty
Family history of sleep apnea.
African Americans, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders have a greater risk of suffering from sleep apnea compared to Caucasions. In addition, African Americans tend to develop sleep apnea later in life. earlier age.
Women who have experienced menopausal. Women who go through menopausal changes suffer from sleep apnea in a manner that is similar to men.
Conditions that can cause facial and head abnormalities, like Marfan’s syndrome or Down Syndrome.
To be screened – If believe you might suffer from sleep apnea, make sure you examine your insurance policy prior to making an appointment as you could be required to obtain the referral to an expert in sleep from your primary doctor. It is also possible that you will be required to visit the right testing center. Some insurance policies don’t cover for diagnosis and/or treatment of sleep disorders. Other policies do not cover durable medical equipment. Moreover, diagnosis and treatment may be expensive typically over 1,000 dollars. Doctors who specialize in sleep medicine could be Pulmonologists (specializing in the lungs) and neurologists (the brain) and Otolaryngologists (the ears and throat), nose and) and psychotherapy (mental medical) as well as primary care doctors. Certain doctors might be certified by the American Board of Sleep medicine (ABSM). They also have degrees that meet the standards of the board. If you’re certified you’re likely to be directed to a sleep clinic. If your doctor does not refer you to a specific sleep center, you can visit http://www.aasmnet.org/ for the most up to date list of accredited member sleep centers and laboratories.
In the sleep center there is the possibility to be undergoing a sleep analysis, that makes use of a variety devices to track your activities during sleep. These generally include an electroencelphalogram (EEG) to measure brain waves and an electroculogram (EOG) to measure eye and chin movement, both to monitor the different stages of sleep. A electrocardiogram (EKG) can measure the heart rate and rhythm, chest bands that measure breathing and breathing patterns and other monitors that measure carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in blood, as well as monitors that record the movement of legs. The devices are not uncomfortable and there aren’t any needles required.
Treatment Options:
In general, your physician will suggest lifestyle modifications along with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, however surgery is an option should the treatments do not work. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association identifies CPAP therapy as the most commonly used treatment for this condition. CPAP therapy is a method of preventing an airway closing while you sleep. It is administered before bed via the use of a facial or nasal mask that is held in place with Velcro straps that fit around the head of the patient. Masks are connected via the tube to a small air compressor. The CPAP machine pumps air under stress through the tube before going into the mask. There, it gives positive pressure to the upper airways, stopping the tissues of the throat’s back from collapsing in sleep.
CPAP therapy is an extremely effective type of treatment, but the most significant issue is not being able to comply. It is estimated that over 65% patients utilize the device for just 4 hours at night in order to use it throughout the patient’s rest. Many times patients, they report using the CPAP only one or two nights during the week.