What causes sleep apnea?

A serious sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep is called sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue of the throat muscles collapses during sleep. Central sleep apnea is usually observed in patients with central nervous system dysfunction, such as following a stroke, or in patients with neuromuscular diseases. It is also common in patients with heart, kidney, or lung disease.

There are 3 types of sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea, the common form that occurs when the muscles of the throat relax,
Central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain stops sending proper signals to the breathing muscles,
Complex sleep apnea syndrome (CSAS) occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Symptoms

The most general symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea include:

waking up with a dry mouth
Headache in the morning
Insomnia and hypersomnia
Lack of attention and concentration while awake
Irritability
Nervousness
Excessive snoring
During sleep, gasping for air

Risk factors

Excess weight disrupts breath by creating fatty tissue around the vocal cords.
Neck circumference: Thicker necks are typically associated with narrower airways.
A narrowed airway: tonsils or adenoids can enlarge or block the airway, particularly in children. Inheriting a narrow throat might be a strong risk factor.
You can develop sleep apnea if you have a history of sleep apnea in your family.
Use of alcohol: These substances relax the throat muscles, which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.
Smoking increases the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway, so smokers are more likely to get sleep apnea than non-smokers.
Nasal congestion: It is difficult to breathe with a congested nose, so you’re more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

If the doctor determines that someone has symptoms suggestive of sleep apnea, in that case, a sleep evaluation is recommended.

A test called a polysomnogram (PSG) is performed in a sleep laboratory under the direct supervision of a trained technologist. During the test, a variety of body functions, such as movement of the eyes, the electrical activity of the brain, blood oxygen levels, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing patterns, and airflow, are recorded at night during sleep. Once the study is completed, the number of times breathing is impaired during sleep is tallied and the severity of the sleep apnea is graded.

Treatment

Non-technical therapies

Conservative therapy should be all that is needed in mild forms of sleep apnea.

People who are overweight can benefit from decreasing weight. For most patients, even a 10% weight decrease can lower the number of apneic occurrences.
Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea should avoid the use of alcohol and certain sleeping pills, which make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and prolong the apneic periods.
Sleeping in a side position also helps.
It is advised to use the nasal spray for nasal congestion and for people with sinus problems.

Mechanical therapy

Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the preferred initial treatment for most people with sleep apnea. With PAP therapy, patients wear a mask over their nose and/or mouth to adjust the air pressure to prevent the upper airway tissues from collapsing during sleep.

The following types of PAP devices can be used:

The use of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is the most common way of treating sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea should always keep their house equipped with Dubai’s best Cpap device for an emergency.
Bi-Level PAP uses two pressure systems: one during inhalation and a lower pressure during exhalation.
Auto CPAP or Auto Bi-Level PAP uses a pressure range that self-regulates during use based on the machine’s detection of pressure requirements.
Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV) is a type of non-invasive ventilation that is used for patients with central sleep apnea, which acts to keep the airway open and deliver a mandatory breath when needed.

“Never let yourself get overweight, as stubborn fat is the most common and major cause of many diseases For your body, walking is a must and sound sleep is a must”

What causes sleep apnea?