Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea

33-year-old Dhaval was admitted to the Zydus Hospital with the complaint of having trouble breathing while sleeping, snoring, pauses in breathing, and feeling restless at night. On examination, he was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and subsequently underwent surgical treatment for it. 

Let’s understand sleep apnea-

Sleep apnea is a sleep-related disorder characterized by repeated breathing pauses, shallow breaths, or upper airway collapse, leading to poor airflow and disturbed sleep. 

Types of sleep apnea-

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep, leading to surrounding tissues pressing against the windpipe and obstructing airflow. 

• Central sleep apnea (CSA) happens when the brain fails to send signals to the muscles responsible for breathing while asleep. 

• Mixed/complex sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

• Waking up several times during the night  

• Breathing interruptions during sleep 

• Irregular breathing patterns (rapid breathing that becomes deeper, then shallower, eventually stopping before resuming)  

• Loud snoring  

• Awakening with a sensation of breathlessness or the feeling of choking  

• Daytime tiredness, drowsiness, or fatigue upon awakening  

Common treatments include-

• Using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine during sleep  

• Wearing an oral appliance, a custom-made mouthpiece designed to keep the airways open while sleeping  

• Surgical intervention to correct defects in the facial structures or abnormalities  

• Surgery to remove excess tissues that may obstruct airways  

• Surgical removal of adenoids and tonsils (primarily for children)  

• Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing sedative use, and sleeping on your side instead of your back