Many new diseases have surrounded the human race with changing times and lifestyles. While some illnesses are acute and can be cured with the proper medication and precautions, others are chronic and can only be managed with the correct practices. But, in both cases, the patients need to be vigilant to recognize the symptoms. They must notice the signs asap and visit their doctor for the correct diagnosis.
However, with that said, it is significant to understand that reading the symptoms of a disease can be troublesome in many cases. This is especially true for sleep-related disorders. So, to help you recognize the signs of one of the most common sleep disorders, sleep apnea, we have noted down everything you must know about this disease. Have a look!
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that prevents people from resting peacefully. Patients with this disease find it hard to breathe while snoozing. It is so because while resting, their breathing repeatedly stops and starts. As a result, such people wake up gasping multiple times through the night.
Most people who have this disease suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). In this type of sleep apnea, a physical blockage in the upper airway is responsible for the obstruction. Another type of sleep apnea is Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), in which your brain fails to signal your respiratory muscles to perform their function. As a result, the person stops breathing temporarily but repeatedly. The third and last type is Mixed Sleep Apnea, where the patient has both central and obstructive sleep apnea.
What are the risks of having sleep apnea?
It is vital to recognize the signs of sleep apnea and begin the treatment as soon as possible because if left untreated, this disorder can result in numerous health problems. These include issues like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, heart failure, heart attacks, cardiomyopathy, stroke, arrhythmias, heart failure, and diabetes. Also, because of not sleeping well through the night, the risk of accidents can arise.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Since sleep apnea is a sleep-related disorder, it can be difficult for the patient to recognize its symptoms. But another person who sleeps with the patient like his partner or sibling, can notice these signs-
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The person stops breathing for a while when asleep
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Suddenly starts breathing followed by noisy breath
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He gasps for air in the middle of the night
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Patients who have sleep apnea snore loudly
Apart from these signs, there are a few symptoms that the patient can recognize on his own. These are as following-
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Fatigue
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Heartburn
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Waking up with a dry or sore mouth
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Restless sleep
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Difficulty in concentrating
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Feeling annoyed and irritated
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Erectile Dysfunction
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Severe headache
What are the possible causes of sleep apnea?
Several factors can be the culprit behind the blockage or collapse of the airway. These include-
- Nasal congestion
- Some neurological problem
- Additional fat stores around the airway
- Thickened tissues
- Lax muscles
What are the different stages of sleep apnea?
It is vital to treat sleep apnea asap because, over time, it can do a lot of damage to your health and well-being. The condition can have long-term consequences and even cause death in severe cases. But, for this, the first step is to categorise sleep apnea. You can divide obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) into different categories based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) measurement system. It calculates the number of pauses you experience per hour during your sleep. Here are the divisions based on this category-
- Severe obstructive sleep apnea- In this case, the AHI is greater than 30. It basically means that you have more than 30 episodes per hour.
- Moderate obstructive sleep apnea- Here, the AHI is generally between 15 and 30, which means you experience 15-30 episodes every hour.
- Mild obstructive sleep apnea- Patients having mild obstructive sleep apnea have AHI between 5 and 15. In this case, the breathing pauses are experienced 5 to 15 times every hour.
What are the best treatment options for this sleep disorder?
Patients with sleep apnea can try various treatment options to live a normal and healthy life. Here is what they can do-
- Make lifestyle changes like following a heart-healthy diet, limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, managing weight, and developing healthy sleep habits like sleeping on time.
- Using the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that keeps the airway open by offering a constant stream of airway pressure. Some patients who can’t deal with continuous stream of air pressure are also recommended to use BiPAP machines by their doctors.
- Opting for surgical procedures and widening the airway by removing the extra tissue or enlarged tonsils.
- Patients with mild or moderate OSA can opt for a mandibular repositioning device. The mouthpiece pushes your jaw forward and keeps the upper airway open.
Can you prevent or avoid sleep apnea?
Although it is not certain whether or not you can prevent sleep apnea, still you can reduce the risk factors by doing certain things. So, here are some steps that you must take to lessen your vulnerability-
- For avoiding sleep apnea, it is recommended to stop the use of alcohol or sleep meds. It is so because consuming them relaxes the muscles located at the back of your throat. This can make it hard to breathe.
- Smoking is a risk factor for sleep apnea. Therefore, if you are in the habit of smoking, you should quit.
- Excess weight not just increases your chances of acquiring sleep apnea, but it can also worsen your symptoms and exacerbate ill effects. Thus, you should exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body weight for preventing sleep apnea.
- When you sleep on your back, the tongue and soft tissues get relaxed. They fall back to obstruct the airway and cause the person to jolt awake, thus contributing to sleep apnea. Therefore, for saving yourself from this condition, you should practice sleeping on your side.
So, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that results in hindered breathing. Its symptoms include snoring, gasping for air, sudden pause in breathing, and fatigue. Patients can opt for surgical procedures, a CPAP machine, or a mandibular repositioning device to treat the condition.
