'Snoring is not a joke, for all'
“I hate that sound!’, she said.
I thought that it snoring was normal during sleep. One fine night my husband felt choking.
I was frightened and knocked the next door of Dr.James.
I realised that snoring was not a joke and never to be taken seriously.”
Yes, it might Sleep Apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea or sleep apnoea is a type of sleep disorder. In simple words the term "apnea" means cessation of breathing or a discontinuance in the process of breathing. It is characterized by pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. These pauses during sleep can last for few seconds or for few minutes, and this can happen many times a night.
Sleep apnea can affect people regardless of sex, race, or age. The usual onset is considered to be 50-60 years. Statistics show that one to six percent of adults experience this and two percent of children have sleep apnea.It affects males about twice as often as females.
Some of the common signs & symptoms of sleep apnea are:
- Loud snoring
- Choking
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
- Impaired alertness
- Vision problems
Sometimes this may increase chances for driving accidents or work-related accidents. Even death could occur from untreated disruption in sleep, due to lack of oxygen to the body and brain. There are other symptoms like behavioural issues like, moodiness, decreased concentration, short temper, insomnia or sleep deprivation.
So, what actually happens during Sleep Apnea?
The mechanism behind this is; when sleep is paused, more of carbon dioxide is accumulated in the bloodstream, this in turn signals the brain to wake up and breath.
What are the types of Sleep Apnea?
There are three major types of Sleep Apnea, they are :
Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA): It is caused by the collapse of the airway, during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea(CSA) : This is caused due to the failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep
Mixed Sleep Apnea: Mixed sleep apnea is the combination of the above mentioned OSA and CSA.
What are the causal factors for Sleep Apnea?
Some of the causes for Sleep Apnea are overweight, age above 40, neck circumference greater than 40 cm, small jaw bone, sinus problem, drug usage, family history of apnea, smokers affected with high blood pressure, nasal congestion and blockage, allergies and other medical condition.
Are there any treatments for this?
Yes. There are few treatments for Sleep Apnea like life style modification, proper dieting, avoiding alcohol and drug usage, regular exercise and maintaining a regular sleeping hours. If the condition is serious, seeking help from a medical professional is strongly advisable. There are other treatments like CPAP(continuous positive airflow pressure), breathing devices, surgery. If you believe " prevention is better than cure", then we should have a healthy lifestyle.The Awareness of the issue and the early intervention is much better. If things go severe,a professionals help is suggested.
If you need further guidance, to address your concern and to seek help take a appointment with our professionals call us @+919741476476 or visit www.cadabamshospitals.com
