Sleep apnea is pauses in breathing that occur during sleep. Hard to detect, especially when sleeping alone. What are the warning signs? Who to consult in case of doubt?
Sleep apnea is breathing pauses that occur during sleep And whose duration is greater than those that can be had when speaking or breathing. “When you have sleep apnea, ventilation stops and therefore gas exchange stops. We eliminate more carbon dioxide (CO2) and we inhale more oxygen. Oxygen in the blood drops and carbon dioxide increases. Several physiological consequences will then appear“, explains in the preamble Dr. Didier Cugy, somnologist, interviewed for the occasion. How do we know if we do? What are warning signs? Who to consult in case of doubt?
“Knowing if you have sleep apnea is easy enough because in general the efficiency of sleep is less good and there will inevitably be a daytime impact and easily identifiable clinical signs“, specifies Dr. Didier Cugy. Non-restorative sleep and fatigue on waking are two things that suggest sleep apnea. Other warning signs make it possible to suspect this pathology even if you sleep alone (see below).
What signs can alert?
- morning/waking fatigue (sleep was not restorative)
- night sweats
- nocturia: getting up several times at night to urinate (the urine is abundant)
- dry mouth and snoring accompanied by sounds of respiratory recovery: “due to an obstruction of the aero-respiratory channel at the level of the nose and pharynx, we will breathe through our mouths“, he specifies.
Where to take a test to know if you have sleep apnea?
A polygraphy can be done at a sleep apnea specialist to thus record the respiratory parameters of sleep: ventilation at the level of the nose, the efforts of breathing (thorax and abdomen), the oxygenation of the blood. Other complementary sensors can be added to this test. “This recording makes it possible to measure, count and count the respiratory events, to know if they are more important when one sleeps on the back or on the side and to determine the factors of severity“, describes the specialist. An apnea index will be calculated on the basis of this recording: it is normal when it is < 5 apneas/hour. Support can be considered from 15 apneas/hour and when there are concomitant factors: hypertension, cardiovascular history, obesity…
Who to consult in case of doubt?
“Once you have noticed the warning signs, that you are wondering, you must talk to your doctor about it.“, insists our interlocutor. The attending physician is the first point of contact in the care process, who will generally refer to a health professional specializing in this issue in order to confirm the diagnosis: sleep doctors, pulmonologists, ENT, cardiologists, endocrinologists and some trained general practitioners.
Thanks to Dr Didier Cugy, somnologist in Bordeaux