INFORMATION ON SLEEP APNEA

Sleep apnea or sleep apnoea is a serious sleep disorder that can be characterized by breaks in breathing during sleep. The patients of sleep apnea have problem of breathing pause while they are sleeping. These short stop or pause in breathing may be for maximum 30 seconds at a time and maximum 400 times at one night. The patients who have sleep apnea aren’t getting enough sleep that is necessary for a normal person. The reason of insufficient sleep is that whenever a short break in breathing comes the patient may wake up from his deep sleep.

The most common kind of sleep apnea disorder is known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. 90% patients have this type of sleep apnea. Sometimes there may be any blockage in trachea or windpipe because of tonsils or uvula or any other reason like deposition of fatty tissue in throat. Because of this blockage patients may unable to get enough air in breathing that why short pauses are possible while breathing. The second type of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea that is very rarely found. Central sleep apnea may happen when muscles related to breathing are unable to get proper signal from our brain means this is related to central nervous system.

SYNONYMS OF SLEEP APNEA

Synonyms of sleep apnea are:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea.
2. Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.
3. Obstructive apnea.
4. Peripheral apnea.
5. Sleep apnea.

CAUSES OF SLEEP APNEA

There are various causes due to those sleep apnea may possible. Sometimes age may be one cause of sleep apnea and if anyone in family has sleep apnea then there are chances for happening sleep apnea. Some cause of sleep apnea are irregular sleep hours, Enlarged tonsils or adenoids, Nasal congestion, nasal blockages, and nasal irritants, Obesity or excessive fat in the neck and throat, Snoring etc. The person those have habit of smoking and use alcohol then there is also chances for sleep apnea. Other causes those are not very common are Hypothyroidism, acromegaly, amyloidosis, vocal cord paralysis, post-polio syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, Marfan’s syndrome, and Down syndrome.

SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP APNEA

The symptoms are almost same for both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea so that sometime it becomes difficult to identify particular sleep apnea. The most common symptom of sleep apnea is hypersomnia means excessive sleepiness during daytime. Other symptoms may include morning headache, loud snoring, difficulty staying asleep means insomnia, dry mouth and sore throat in the morning etc. the patient often feels irritability or fatigue because of insufficient sleep. Sometimes this is also noticeable that the patient of sleep apnea have problem to remember things means forgetfulness may be possible.

Other symptoms are:

1. Loud snoring.
2. Periods of not breathing.
3. Morning headaches.
4. Recent weight gain.
5. Limited attention.
6. Memory loss.
7. Poor judgment.
8. Personality changes.
9. Lethargy.

DIAGNOSIS OF SLEEP APNEA

A physical examination of the mouth, neck and throat is important to detect abnormalities that may predispose.

Tests under diagnosis include:

1. Sleep studies.
2. An ECG to show arrhythmias during sleep.
3. An arterial blood gases to show low oxygen or elevated carbon dioxide.
4. Echocardiogram to evaluate the function of the heart.
5. Thyroid function studies.

TREATMENT OF SLEEP APNEA

Treatment of sleep apnea will depend on mild and severe condition and causes of sleep apnea. In mild symptoms of sleep apnea we can treat sleep apnea by some behavioral changes like losing weight, by avoiding smoking and alcohol etc. treatment for obstructive sleep apnea may include some therapies like Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and Oral appliances. Patients of sleep apnea should have supplemental oxygen while they sleep.