Do you snore a lot? Have you ever woken up from your sleep with a choking feeling? Do you feel excessively sleepy and fatigued during the daytime? If yes, then you might need to rule out the possibility of Sleep Apnoea.

What is Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep Apnoea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder where a person's breathing stops and starts repeatedly while he is asleep. Though the condition is common, it remains undiagnosed in many and not taken seriously by most. It is estimated that about 1 billion people (between ages 30 to 69) around the world have obstructive sleep apnea. If left untreated, it may end up in serious complications.

Types of Sleep Apnoea:

  • Obstructive Sleep apnoea (OSA): This is the most common type that occurs due to the blockage of the airway system caused by the overrelaxation of throat muscles.
  • Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA): This is the less common type and occurs when the brain fails to give correct signals to the breathing muscles.
  • Complex Sleep Apnoea Syndrome: It is a combination of both OSA and CSA

Symptoms:

  • Loud snoring is the most common symptom but not everybody who snores has Sleep Apnoea.
  • Pausing of breathing while sleeping which is often noticed by the partner.
  • Choking or gasping for air during sleep.
  • Daytime excessive sleepiness.
  • Feeling of tiredness or fatigue throughout the day.
  • Morning headaches.
  • Dry mouth upon getting up from sleep.
  • Irritability and mood changes.
  • Night sweats.

Causes and Risk Factors:

Sleep Apnoea is caused due to either the blockage of the airway system during sleep or due to an issue with the signal transmission from the respiratory center to the breathing muscles. There are multiple risk factors like:

  • Overweight: Excessive fat in upper airway increases the risk of airway collapse.
  • Gender: Men are 2-3 times more likely to have Sleep Apnoea compared to women.
  • Age: The risk to develop Sleep Apnoea increases with age, especially after 40s.
  • Use of Alcohol or Sedatives as they relax the throat muscles.
  • Smoking increases the inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.
  • Enlarged Tonsills.
  • Family History.
  • Endocrine Disorders like PCOS and Hypothyroidism increase the risk of developing Sleep Apnoea.

Diagnosis:

After going through your sleep history and symptoms, the doctor may recommend a Polysomnogram that monitors your heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels, and brain waves while you sleep. Based on the test results which show the severity of the condition (mild, moderate or severe), the doctor may recommend the treatment. 

Treatment:

Treatment is based on the type and severity of the Sleep Apnoea. These may include:

  • Use of Continuous Positive Pressure Airways (CPAP) machine.
  • Lifestyle Changes: Weight reduction, sleeping on one side (avoid sleeping on back), smoking cessation, avoid alcohol.
  • Wearing an oral device (mouthpiece) to keep the airway open.
  • Treating the underlying condition that caused Sleep Apnoea.
  • Surgery: Surgical options like uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or nasal surgery are considered when other treatments fail.

Complications:

If left untreated, Sleep Apnoea may end up having serious complications like:

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness (dangerous while driving).
  • Arrythmias or irregular heart beats.
  • High Blood Pressure.
  • Heart diseases.
  • Stroke.
  • Cardiac arrest.

Conclusion:

Sleep Apnoea is a serious medical condition and if left untreated may lead to serious complications. Recognizing the condition and treating the underlying case may significantly improve the health outcomes and improve the quality of life.

Disclaimer: This article is written by Practo for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.