DONT DIE SUDDENLY! BEWARE OF SLEEP APNEA
12:10Unknown
We’ve all heard the jokes about snoring husbands and the long-suffering wives forced to share a bed with them and some got divorced too.
But if you (or your loved one) has sleep apnea, you know it’s no joke. And if you’re forced to use the dreaded CPAP? Even less funny.
What is sleep apnea?
The word ‘apnea’ is derived from the Greek for ‘want of breath’ and it describes a disorder which either reduces breathing capacity or stops breathing altogether while sleeping.
While ‘sleep apnea’ can be characterized by a range of seemingly harmless symptoms (like snoring), this simple phrase hides a sinister secret.
These cessations of breath can last for anything between 10-30 seconds and occur hundreds of times during a single sleep cycle.
They can lead to chronic fatigue, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and mood and memory problems, among other things.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which affected individuals have periods during their sleep when their breathing decreases or stops (apnea) due to collapse of the airway. These periods of decreased breathing result in decreased oxygen flow to vital tissues and organs in the body. As the body tries to compensate, there are often multiple awakenings throughout the night. This causes the characteristic excessive daytime sleepiness so often found in sleep apnea.
Who is affected by sleep apnea?
Most often sleep apnea affects obese individuals however it is important to recognize that anyone can be affected by sleep apnea. The major factor contributing to the development of sleep apnea is excessive soft tissue compressing the airway. This is often seen in the obese. However, other risk factors such as smoking, chronic nasal congestion, upper airway abnormalities (enlarged tonsils or adenoids), diabetes, and family history may also contribute to developing sleep apnea.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
A definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea is typically established by way of a sleep study known as polysomnography. During this test a neurologist or pulmonologist will have you spend the night in a “sleep lab” where they will monitor your activity during sleep. The purpose of this monitoring is to observe if and how many periods of apnea an individual experiences. Below is a list of symptoms that an individual with sleep apnea may notice:
◾Loud snoring and snorting sounds during sleep (often recognized more by the spouse or significant other rather than the affected individual him or herself)
◾Daytime sleepiness
◾Morning headaches upon awakening
◾Falling asleep at inappropriate times during the day
◾Not feeling rested after a full night’s sleep
◾Chest Pain
◾High blood pressure
What are the risks of sleep apnea?
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a number of serious medical complications. In addition to increased risks of accidents and injuries due to excessive fatigue and the inability to concentrate, sleep apnea may also contribute to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and sudden death. High blood pressure, heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, and pulmonary hypertension (elevated blood pressure in the lungs) can also be caused by sleep apnea.
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