Sleep Apnea: Symptoms, Complications, and Treatment

Contents

In this article, we will take a look at:

• What is sleep apnea?
• How does sleep apnea occur?
• Who is prone to sleep apnea?
• Symptoms of a sleep apnea
• Diagnosis of a sleep apnea
• Complications of a sleep apnea
• Treatment for a sleep apnea

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What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a fatal sleep disorder where the patient faces difficulty in breathing while sleeping. In this case, the breathing may start and stop when the person is in a deep sleep. The person also experiences loud snoring and feel fatigue in the morning even after a full night's sleep. Timely consultation with the doctor helps in preventing further complication of the disease like heart problems.

There are three principal types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

It is the most common type of sleep apnea where the patient faces repeated upper airway disturbances when he is in a deep sleep. Here the throat muscle may become relaxed which may cause breathing to stop for some seconds and again start after some time.

Central Sleep Apnea

It is another common sleep apnea condition where the patient’s muscle does not receive a proper signal from the brain to control breathing while sleeping.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome

It is also known as treatment-emergent central sleep. Here the patient suffers from both obstructive sleep apnea as well as central sleep apnea.

How does sleep apnea occur?

Sleep apnea occurs when the patient’s breathing starts and stops for about 10 seconds in the sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when:

• The muscles present in the back of the patient's throat become relaxed.
• It narrows down or even closes the airway, thereby stopping the flow of oxygen in the blood. The brain senses the danger and wakes up the person in between sleep so that the airway becomes open again.
• In most of the cases, this wakening occurs for such a brief period that the patient does not even remember this in the morning.
• However, repetition of this process several times at night makes the person feel fatigued and lethargic throughout the day.
• Central sleep apnea occurs when:
• The brain is unable to transmit signals to the breathing muscles to function correctly.
• It causes relaxation of the tissue for a short period at night which leads to shortness of breath.
• It is a less common type of sleep apnea where the person needs to wake up many times at night due to difficulty in breathing.

Who is Prone to sleep apnea?

You have a high risk of acquiring sleep apnea if:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• You are obese, and the fat deposition in the upper respiratory tract causes difficulty in breathing by obstructing the airway.
• You have a thicker neck circumference.
• You are a male or an elderly woman as women have a higher risk of sleep apnea in their old age after reaching their menopause.
• You are an alcoholic, and often use tranquilisers for sleeping.
• You are a smoker, as nicotine increases inflammation and fluid retention in the upper respiratory tract.
• Central Sleep Apnea
• You are elderly male.
• You have congestive heart failure.
• You use pain-relieving drugs like opioid and methadone-like medication.
• You have a history of stroke.

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea? How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

The symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring at night
• Gasping for air in between sleep
• Getting up with a dry, parched mouth in the morning
• Stoppage or restriction in breathing during sleep
• Insomnia or difficulty in sleeping
• Hypersomnia or experiencing excessive sleepiness during the day
• Attention problem, headaches, mood swings, and irritability

Diagnosis

Sleep apnea test or polysomnogram helps in the diagnosis of sleep apnea. It is a multiple component diagnostic test conducted in the sleep disorder centre. Here the physical activities which go on in the patient’s body during sleep get electronically transmitted and recorded by highly advanced medical instruments. These recordings are later on analysed by an expert who concludes whether the patient has sleep apnea or not. In addition to this test, the doctor may also advise an electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG), electrocardiogram (ECG), snore microphone, and nasal airflow tests to achieve a better idea of the functioning of organs in the respiratory tracts and central nervous system.

What are the Complications of Sleep Apnea?

If the patient does not undergo timely treatment for sleep apnea, then it may lead to several complications like:

• High blood pressure and heart problems in the future
• Increase in cholesterol level
• Development of type 2 diabetes due to insulin resistance from sleep apnea
• Liver problems like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

What is the Treatment for Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea may be mild, moderate or severe. The treatment for this disease depends on the category on which the patient falls in the current situation. If the patient suffers from mild sleep apnea, then the doctor recommends certain lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and losing weight. If the apnea reaches a moderate level, then specific treatment procedures like “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)” therapy helps in managing the condition. In case of severe sleep apnea, surgical interventions like tissue removal, maxillomandibular advancement or tracheostomy by removing the airway block prove useful.