SLEEP APNEA: WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS, DANGERS AND TREATMENTS?

 

If small respiratory problems sometimes cause unpleasant snoring for the sleeper and for the one who is in the same bed, it sometimes happens that it is more serious, when the sleeper suffers from sleep apnea. This syndrome affects 30% of people over 65, but does not spare other age categories and can even be seen in children.

Is that bad? How do you know if you are affected? How to deal with this problem? So many questions to which wellnesswisdom.com provides you with answers to improve the quality of your sleep and your daily life.

How is sleep apnea defined?

Sleep apnea is not just particularly loud snoring or wheezing during the night. This syndrome has a more precise definition, according to which sleep apneas are involuntary and repeated interruptions of breathing when a person is sleeping. To establish a diagnosis of sleep apnea pauses in breathing are estimated to last at least 10 seconds (although they can sometimes last up to 30 seconds) and happen at least five times per sleeping hour.

But how can this cessation of breathing occur? It is a principle similar to that which causes snoring: the airways are obstructed, which prevents the air from circulating properly. This is why sleep apnea is also called OSAS or SAHOS, for “Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome”.

In rarer cases, the apnea is not obstructive, but due to a lack of communication between the brain and the respiratory system. We then speak of ACS, for “Central Sleep Apnea”.

What are the signs that indicate sleep apnea?

The respiratory micro-stops in the event of SAHOS are not necessarily perceived during the night by the sleeper. However, they induce micro-awakenings, which can lead to the following symptoms:

• fatigue and drowsiness during the day, caused by choppy and non-restorative sleep;
• urgent and repeated needs to go to the toilet during the night;
• concentration and memorization difficulties, which can for example result in a drop in school results in young patients;
• feelings of suffocation during the night;
• headaches on waking and/or during the day, etc.

In short, sleep apnea leads to the same consequences as any sleep disorder, which could also be caused by stress, misalignment of the body during the night, depression, etc.

Also note that OSAS causes snoring, which is usually louder than mild snoring. Not only problematic for the sleeper, but they can also lead to sleep disturbances and irritability in the person sleeping with the sleep apnea patient.

What are the causes of this pathology?

The airway obstruction causing OSAS can emanate from anatomical factors. Some people suffer from sleep apnea because of obstacles in their airways, for example when the jaws are incorrectly positioned, when the pharynx is too narrow, when the tonsils or the tongue are too bulky, etc. All this can indeed prevent the proper passage of air in the upper respiratory tract.

But there are also risk factors related to gender and age. We know that men are more affected than women. The prevalence of the syndrome is also greater in the elderly, in particular, because of a relaxation of certain respiratory tissues and muscles.

There are also several risk factors related to the consumption of substances such as alcohol, tobacco, or certain medications (muscle relaxants, sleeping pills, anxiolytics, etc.).

Finally, overweight and obese increase the likelihood of suffering from sleep apnea, due to the fat that obstructs the airways in the neck.

Is sleep apnea dangerous?

If the micro-breathing stops during the night can be impressive and raise fears of cardiac arrest, they are generally not inherently dangerous. However, they can induce other health risks and discomforts in daily life:

• daytime fatigue and sleepiness can significantly affect the quality of life;
• OSAS promotes irritability, and lack of energy, and can lead to depression;
• sleep apnea increases the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease and seeing your blood pressure increase, in particular, because the heart has to work harder to compensate for the lack of oxygen;
• the lack of concentration and vigilance can be problematic for the patient when he is driving or if he exercises a risky job for example, with an increased risk of an accident.

In case of signs that may indicate OSAS, it is therefore important to consult your doctor. After a first questionnaire (Epworth drowsiness test for example), he can redirect you to a specialized center to make sleep recordings and establish a diagnosis. It will then be possible to implement appropriate treatments and measures to reduce or eliminate respiratory micro-stops at night as well as their consequences.

What solutions for patients suffering from sleep apnea?

To overcome this respiratory disorder and sleep well, it is recommended to combine several measures, on the recommendations of the attending physician and the medical specialist. Here are some of the most common solutions for treating OSAS.

Adopting a better lifestyle

When we know that it is obesity, tobacco, or alcohol that are largely responsible for sleep apnea, it is possible to act at the source to treat them.

The practice of regular physical activity and balanced and varied nutrition is thus the first measures to be implemented for overweight patients.

Reducing alcohol consumption and quitting smoking are also recommended to treat sleep apnea, and will only be beneficial for overall health.

Continuous Positive Pressure Therapy 

If the previous measures are not enough or do not apply to you, you may need assistance at night to breathe well. A device is specially designed for this purpose: the CPAP (Continuous Positive Pressure) ventilation machine.

The device comprises a turbine that injects air continuously into the patient, via a nasal mask or a mouth-nasal mask.

The CPAP device is sometimes seen as bulky and inconvenient, but it can be very effective when used properly. If this type of treatment is prescribed to you, and by following the recommendations for use, you will benefit from better quality sleep, you will no longer be subject to snoring, etc.

Installation of a mandibular advancement orthosis

Another possible treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome is a mouth orthosis. By keeping the jaw in a certain position, it facilitates the passage of oxygen into the airways. The orthosis is especially recommended for mild or moderate sleep apnea, or when CPAP ventilation does not work or is not tolerated in a patient.

Accessories for better sleep

The position of the body during sleep also plays a role in airway obstruction. For example, it is advisable to sleep on your side or use an anti-snoring pillow. This type of pillow allows a better alignment of the airways so that the air circulates more easily. And since it is also an ergonomic pillow, it will help you adopt a healthier overall posture, which will reduce pain in the neck, lower back, etc.

Other ergonomic accessories can improve the quality of your sleep and relieve your pain, such as mattress toppers, ergonomic pillows, etc., for which you will also find suitable bed linen in our online store.

Surgery for certain pathologies

If all the previous treatments and advice are not enough to end obstructive sleep apnea, the specialist doctor may consider surgery. Depending on the causes of sleep apnea, the patient's age, the risks of the intervention, etc., one can thus proceed to maxillomandibular surgery, removal of the tonsils, and removal or modeling of the tissues present. in the throat, clearing the nasal passages, etc.

Surgery is usually a last resort solution, which deserves to weigh the pros and cons and establish an accurate diagnosis of the causes of sleep apnea. It is more often recommended for children than for adults, for whom the CPAP device and mask can be difficult to accept, especially since ENT surgery or removal of the tonsils in children offers good results.