Cessation of breathing for short periods during sleep. It is classified as obstructive, central, or mixed obstructive-central. It can occur at any age but it is more frequent in people over forty. Risk factors include male sex and obesity
Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea
The following features are indicative of Sleep Apnoea:
loud snoring
episodes of breathing cessation
abrupt awakenings
morning headache
insomnia
excessive daytime sleepiness
attention problems
irritability
It is possible that Sleep Apnoea shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Sleep Apnoea
The following are the most common causes of Sleep Apnoea:
muscles in the back of throat get relax
Risk Factors for Sleep Apnoea
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Sleep Apnoea:
excess weight
thicker neck circumference
a narrowed airway
being male
being older
family history
alcohol consumption
smoking
nasal congestion
Prevention of Sleep Apnoea
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Sleep Apnoea. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
lose excessive weight
regular exercising
avoid alcohol consumption
use of saline nasal spray
Occurrence of Sleep Apnoea
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Sleep Apnoea cases seen each year worldwide:
Common between 1 - 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Sleep Apnoea most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged > 50 years
Common Gender
Sleep Apnoea can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Sleep Apnoea
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Sleep Apnoea:
Nocturnal polysomnography: Monitors heart, lungs and brain activity
Complications of Sleep Apnoea if untreated
Yes, Sleep Apnoea causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Sleep Apnoea is left untreated:
liver problems
Metabolic syndrome
type 2 diabetes
daytime fatigue
Procedures for Treatment of Sleep Apnoea
The following procedures are used to treat Sleep Apnoea:
Continuous positive airway pressure therapy: Delivers the air pressure through a mask placed over nose while sleeping
Use of oral appliances: Helps in relieving snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: To remove tissue from the rear of mouth and top of throat
Nasal surgery: Removes polyps or straighten a crooked partition between nostrils
Self-care for Sleep Apnoea
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Sleep Apnoea:
Lose excessive weight: Helps in relieving constriction of throat
Regular exercising: Helps to ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea even without weight loss
Avoid alcohol consumption: To relax the muscles in the back of throat, interfering with breathing
Use of a saline nasal spray: Helps to keep nasal passages open
Stop smoking: To reduce the severe conditions of obstructive sleep apnea
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Sleep Apnoea
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Sleep Apnoea:
Physical therapy: Do exercise to lose excess weight
Time for Treatment of Sleep Apnoea
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Sleep Apnoea to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: