Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Causes, And Health Risks
The Silent Struggle: Understanding Sleep Apnea and Its Impact on Health
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Do you have an interrupted sleeping pattern? Do you wake up in the morning with a bad headache? Do you feel sleepy during the day? If the answer to all three questions is ‘yes’, you could be suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Although these signs may not strike you as a serious problem, you need to know that OSAS could possibly kill you. As per an observational study that was recently conducted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, ~97% of study participants (suffering from various cardiac problems) had significant sleep apnoea and ~58% of them could be classified into the severe category of sleep apnoea. People with a high body mass index (BMI) are widely believed to be more prone to sleep apnoea; however, this study demonstrated no correlation between sleep apnoea and BMI. This indicates that even patients who had a low BMI were at risk and had a significant prevalence of the disease.
Based on the obstructive breathing events that you face, obstructive sleep apnoea is of the following types.
A person who suffers from sleep apnoea feels very sleepy during the daytime, often wakes up during the night, lacks focus and may experience general fatigue. The effects of the disease are not restricted to just these signs. Other signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea are listed below.
Making certain healthy lifestyle changes can help in preventing obstructive sleep apnoea.
OSAS is diagnosed based on monitoring, recording and analysis of physiological parameters of the person via a sleep study or polysomnography undertaken by a trained professional. Polysomnography is an easy test that helps to differentiate sleep apnoea from other sleep disorders. In adults, a home sleep test (HST) may be performed, which is a modified sleep study performed at home. Although OSAS was identified more than three decades ago, physicians do not have any sort of formal training in identifying and treating the condition to date. Other than polysomnography, other tests, which can help your doctor identify the location of your obstruction in obstructive sleep apnoea, are listed below:
In certain cases, if the symptoms are mild, conservative treatment will be sufficient to treat obstructive sleep apnoea.
Conservative treatment such as losing weight if you are overweight, avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills, sleeping on your side rather than your back, treating nasal congestion or sinus problems with breathing strips or nasal sprays and getting adequate sleep can help treat mild obstructive sleep apnoea.
Currently, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard for treating OSA. CPAP treats OSA by applying positive airway pressure through a nasal mask (as shown in the image at the extreme right). This positive pressure acts as a pneumatic splint to hold the upper airway open throughout the entire breathing cycle. The level of positive airway pressure requires to be determined during a sleep study. This will vary depending on the patient. The provision of a pneumatic splint ensures that the positive pressure prevents the collapse of your airway and ensures that air flows freely to your lungs. Other types and styles of positive airway pressure devices are listed below:
Certain lifestyle changes are important to prevent and ensure obstructive sleep apnoea is at bay:
Other than sleep medication, certain alternatives such as foods, lifestyle changes, herbal medicines, exercise, yoga and meditation can help in inducing sleep.
References
1. Types of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Stanford Health Care. Available at: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/sleep/obstructive-sleep-apnea/types.html. (https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/sleep/obstructive-sleep-apnea/types.html)
2. The dangers of uncontrolled Sleep Apnea. John Hopkins Medicine. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-dangers-of-uncontrolled-sleep-apnea. (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-dangers-of-uncontrolled-sleep-apnea)
3. Sleep Apnea. Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8718-sleep-apnea. (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8718-sleep-apnea)
4. Sleep Apnea. Sleep Foundation. Available at: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea. (https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-apnea)
5. Sleep Apnea. NIH. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sleep-apnea. (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sleep-apnea)
6. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis. Stanford Health Care. Available at: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/sleep/obstructive-sleep-apnea/diagnosis.html. (https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/sleep/obstructive-sleep-apnea/diagnosis.html)
The Silent Struggle: Understanding Sleep Apnea and Its Impact on Health
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The Silent Struggle: Understanding Sleep Apnea and Its Impact on Health
With increasing evidence supporting the role of sleep in reducing stroke risk, doctors and patients alike should prioritize sleep as an essential part of stroke prevention strategies.
Supplementation can decrease the onsetting symptoms of sleep apnea and improve overall health to prevent the disorder from progressing.
Obstructive sleep apnea or Obstructive Sleep Snoring is an under diagnosed condition. Read on to know about the effective treatment options.
What exactly is obstructive sleep apnea? Dr SACHIN D from Manipal Hospital shares a few things that everybody should know about this disease.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is common in people with Type 2 Diabetes and it can significantly increase their risk of cardiovascular disease. Read on.
If a child snores more than three nights a week, speak with a pediatrician. Several studies have indicated a link between habitual snoring in children and behavioural problems, such as inattention or hyperactivity.
Experts say that women with a history of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may face a higher risk of spine or vertebral fractures. Read on to know other health risks.
Snoring and sleep apnea makes sleeping difficult not just for the afflicted person but also for someone who sleeps with them. Regular yoga asanas can help treat these conditions.
A new scientific study says that sleep apnea or sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts can lead to the growth of lung cancer growth in young individuals.
Sleep scientists and medical researchers often stress on the importance of having at least 1.5-2 hours of gap between having dinner and hitting the bed.
The demons of sleepiness impact teenage girls more than teenage boys, a new research has claimed.
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Almonds, kiwi fruit, walnuts, banana, chickpeas, milk, oatmeal and white rice are food that have ingredients that enhance sleep.
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