Sleep apnea: symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea or sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing often stops during sleep. As a result, the organs, especially the brain, may not get enough oxygen, and the quality of sleep becomes poor, which can make the patient feel tired the next day.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, the main types of sleep apnea are:

• Obstructive sleep apnea. The more common type, caused by obstruction of the airways.
• Central sleep apnea. Not caused by obstruction of the respiratory tract, but caused by instability of the respiratory control center. As a result, the brain fails to signal the breathing muscles.
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome. Occurs when a person has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a condition that can be related to other conditions, such as gout. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, call your doctor right away. Treatment can relieve symptoms and possibly prevent heart problems and other complications.

How common is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a very common condition. It usually occurs in more men than women, about 2-3 men to 1 woman.

This condition can occur in patients of any age, including children. However, it is more common in middle-aged adults. In children, sleep apnea is a condition that can interfere with brain development.

Sleep apnea can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea?

The signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea often overlap, making it difficult to determine which type you have. Common symptoms of sleep apnea are:

• Snoring loudly
• Other people notice several breath interruptions while you sleep
• Waking up suddenly accompanied by shortness of breath
• Wake up with dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• A problem in concern
• It's easy to get irritated.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• A loud snoring that interferes with other people's sleep or your own sleep
• Shortness of breath, shortness of breath, or choking that wakes you from sleep
• There is a pause in breathing during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Tired, sleepy, and irritable.

Cause

What causes sleep apnea?

The causes of sleep apnea according to the type are:

Obstructive sleep apnea

When the back of the throat muscles relax, the respiratory tract narrows and closes during breathing. These muscles support the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, side walls of the throat, and tongue.

When the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes while you breathe, you can't get enough air, which lowers the oxygen level in your blood.

Your brain senses your inability to breathe and wakes you up in a short time. Usually waking up is so brief that the patient with sleep apnea doesn't remember it.

When this happens, you may choke. This pattern can be repeated five to 30 times or more each hour, throughout the night, interfering with your ability to reach the deep sleep phase.

Central sleep apnea

The patient's brain fails to send signals to the breathing muscles. This keeps the muscles from breathing for some time. The patient may wake up with shortness of breath or have difficulty sleeping.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that can affect anyone, including children. However, the factors below are conditions that can increase your risk of developing sleep apnea by type:

Obstructive sleep apnea

Factors that can improve this form of sleep apnea are:

• Overweight. Obesity can increase your risk of developing sleep apnea. The buildup of fat around the upper airway can obstruct your breathing.
• Neck circumference. People with thicker necks may have narrower airways.
• Narrowed airway. You may inherit a narrow throat from your family. The tonsils or adenoids can also become enlarged and block the airway, especially in children.
• Male gender. Men have two to three times higher risk of developing sleep apnea than women. However, the risk for women increases when they are overweight and are menopausal.
• Old age. Sleep apnea is more common in older people.
• Family history. Having a family member with sleep apnea can also increase your risk of developing a similar condition.
• Use of alcohol or sedatives. These substances relax the muscles in your throat, which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.
• Smoke. Smokers are three times more likely to get obstructive sleep apnea than those who never smoke. Smoking can increase the amount of inflammation and fluid in the upper respiratory tract.
• Nasal congestion. If you have difficulty breathing through your nose, whether it's due to anatomical problems or allergies, you are more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea.

Central sleep apnea

Factors that can increase your risk of developing central sleep apnea are:

• Old age. Adults and the elderly have a higher risk of developing central sleep apnea.
• Male gender. Central sleep apnea is a condition that is more common in men than in women.
• Heart problems. Having congestive heart failure increases your risk of developing central sleep apnea.
• Take narcotic painkillers. Opioid drugs, especially long-acting drugs such as methadone, increase the risk of central sleep apnea.
• Has had a stroke. If you have a stroke, you are at risk of developing central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea syndrome.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Tests to detect sleep apnea include:

• Nocturnal polysomnography. During this test, you are connected to equipment that monitors your heart, lungs and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.
• Home sleep test, namely by measuring heart rate, blood oxygen levels, air flow and breathing patterns

What are the sleep apnea treatment options?

According to the type, treatment to treat sleep apnea is:

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea treatment options are:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), namely using a device to deliver air pressure through a mask that covers the nose while sleeping.
• Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), that is, using a CPAP-like device but with a higher pressure when inhaling and a lower pressure when exhaling.
• Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), namely using a small, disposable before bed that helps air to enter freely, but when exhaling, the air passes through a small hole in the valve.
• Tool on the mouth, namely using a device in the mouth that keeps the throat open. Oral appliance is easier to use than CPAP.

If other treatments have failed, surgery may be performed, including:

• Tissue removal, which is the tissue removed from the back of the mouth and the top of the throat. The tonsils and adenoids are usually removed.
• Reposition the jaw.
• Implant a plastic rod on the palate after you have local anesthesia.
• Creating a new airway (metal or plastic duct tracheostomy inserted).
• Nasal surgery to remove polyps or straighten the partitions between bent nostrils.
• Weight loss surgery.

Central sleep apnea

Treatment for central sleep apnea can include:

• Treatment for medical conditions related to heart or neuromuscular disorders that can cause sleep apnea.
• Additional oxygen, which is using additional oxygen during sleep.
• Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), which is using a device that normalizes breathing patterns and prevents pauses in breathing.
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
• Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP).

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat sleep apnea?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with sleep apnea:

• Lose excess weight
• Sports
• Avoid alcohol and certain drugs such as sedatives and sleeping pills
• Sleeping on your side or stomach instead of sleeping on your back
• Keep the nasal passages open at night
• Quit smoking if you are a smoker

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.