Sleep Apnea - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Sleep apnea or sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person's breathing to temporarily stop several times while sleeping. This condition can be characterized by snoring during sleep andstage mfeeling sleepy after a long sleep.

The term apnea in sleep apnea means breathing stops or stops breathing. People with sleep apnea can stop breathing for about 10 seconds as many as hundreds of times during sleep. This condition is very dangerous because it causes the body to lack oxygen. In women, this condition can sometimes cause snoring during pregnancy.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

In many cases, sufferers are not aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea. Some of these symptoms are actually recognized by people who sleep in the same room with the sufferer. Some of the common symptoms that appear when people with sleep apnea are sleeping are:

  • Snoring loudly.
  • Stop breathing, several times while sleeping.
  • Struggling to catch his breath while sleeping.
  • Waking up from sleep due to feeling suffocated or coughing at night.
  • Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).

In addition to symptoms that appear during sleep, people with sleep apnea can also feel complaints after waking up from sleep, including:

  • Woke up with a dry mouth.
  • Headache when you just wake up.
  • Feeling very sleepy during the day.
  • Difficulty concentrating, studying, or remembering things.
  • Experiencing mood swings and irritability.
  • Decreased libido.

When to go to the doctor

A doctor's examination is needed if you experience symptoms of sleep apnea, such as snoring loudly and stopping breathing repeatedly while sleeping.

Smoking and drinking alcohol are at risk of causing sleep apnea. If you have difficulty quitting smoking or are addicted to alcohol, you should consult a doctor for therapy.

If you are overweight or obese, consult a nutritionist for a weight loss program, so that your risk of developing sleep apnea is lower. The nutritionist will adjust the diet according to your condition and set a safe weight loss target.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is caused by various factors. Here are some types of sleep apnea according to the cause:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea

    Obstructive sleep apnea It occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax too much. This condition makes the airways narrow or close when you inhale, for example because the tongue is swallowed.

  • Central sleep apnea

    Central sleep apnea It occurs when the brain cannot properly send signals to the muscles that control breathing. This causes the patient to be unable to breathe for some time.

  • Complex sleep apnea

    This type of sleep apnea is a combination of: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Risk factors for sleep apnea

Sleep apnea can happen to anyone, even children. A person will be more at risk of developing sleep apnea if they have the following risk factors:

  • Male gender
  • 40 years and over
  • Have tonsils and a large tongue or small jaw
  • There is obstruction in the nose due to a crooked nasal bone
  • Have allergies or sinus problems
  • Smoke
  • Alcohol addiction
  • Taking sleeping pills

Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea

At the initial stage of the examination, the doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced by the patient, both to the patient himself and to his family, especially those who sleep with the patient. The doctor will then perform a physical examination.

After that, the doctor will ask the patient to undergo a sleep pattern examination called sleep study. In this examination, the doctor will monitor the patient's breathing pattern and body function while sleeping, either at home or in a special clinic at the hospital. The tests performed to detect sleep apnea are:

  • Sleep test at home

    In this examination, the patient will take home a special device that can record and measure heart rate, blood oxygen levels, breath flow, and breathing patterns during sleep.

  • Polysomnography (nocturnal polysomnography)

    In this examination, the doctor will use equipment that monitors heart, lung, and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while the patient is sleeping.

If the test results show that the patient is suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, then the doctor will refer the patient to an ENT doctor to get rid of the blockage in the nose and throat. If the patient suffers central sleep apnea, the doctor will give a referral to a neurologist.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Treatment for sleep apnea depends on the patient's condition and the severity of the sleep apnea. Mild sleep apnea can be managed independently, for example by losing weight, quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, and changing sleeping positions.

If the condition is severe enough, sleep apnea needs to be treated medically, including by:

Special therapy

If lifestyle changes do not work to overcome the symptoms of sleep apnea or if the symptoms are severe enough, then the patient is recommended to undergo therapy with the following tools:

  • CPAP (ccontinuous ppositive airway pressure)

    This tool is used to blow air into the respiratory tract through a mask that covers the nose and mouth of sleep apnea sufferers while sleeping. The goal of CPAP therapy is to prevent the throat from closing and relieve symptoms.

  • BPAP (bilevel ppositive airway pressure)

    This device works by increasing the air pressure when the patient inhales and lowering the air pressure when the patient exhales. This will make it easier for the patient to breathe. This tool can also keep the amount of oxygen in the patient's body is sufficient.

  • MAD (mandibular advancement device)

    This device is designed to hold the jaw and tongue to prevent constriction of the airways that causes a person to snore. However, MAD is not recommended for people with severe sleep apnea.

Operation

If lifestyle changes and therapy with the above tools still do not improve the symptoms of sleep apnea for 3 months, then the patient can undergo surgery. Operations that can be performed to treat sleep apnea include:

  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

    In this procedure, the doctor will remove some of the tissue at the back of the mouth and the top of the throat, as well as remove the tonsils and adenoids, to prevent the patient from snoring while sleeping.

  • Radiofrequency ablation

    This procedure is used to remove some of the tissue at the back of the mouth and the back of the throat, using special energy waves.

  • Jaw repositioning surgery

    In this jaw surgery, the lower jaw bone is positioned more forward than the facial bone. The goal is to expand the space behind the tongue and palate.

  • Nerve stimulation

    The doctor will insert a special device to stimulate the nerves that control the movement of the tongue, to keep the airway open.

  • Tracheostomy

    A tracheostomy is performed to create a new airway in severe sleep apnea. The doctor will make an incision in the patient's neck, then insert a metal or plastic tube into it.

Complications from Sleep Apnea

If not treated immediately, sleep apnea can increase the risk of sufferers experiencing complications such as:

  • Prolonged headache
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Heart disease
  • Impaired liver function
  • Depression

In addition to the above complications, sleep apnea can interfere with the sufferer's daily activities and reduce performance at work and study. Sleep apnea can also increase the risk of accidents while driving due to drowsiness and decreased alertness. The effects of sleep disturbances are certainly not good for health.