Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that should not be ignored. With early diagnosis and effective treatment, it is possible to control symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Sleep apnea can prevent the body from receiving enough oxygen due to irregular breathing patterns during sleep. This can increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and other serious health problems.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. These pauses often temporarily stop a person’s breathing and can significantly affect sleep quality. Sleep apnea is often associated with symptoms such as snoring during sleep, restlessness, and frequent awakenings throughout the night. There are 3 types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA) and mixed sleep apnea.
We can answer the question of what causes sleep apnea as follows:
The causes of sleep apnea are generally related to the person’s anatomical structure, excess weight, age, gender and genetic factors. Excess weight can cause fatty tissue to accumulate around the throat and block the airway. Additionally, genetic factors and family history may also increase the risk of sleep apnea.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
Sleep apnea is usually diagnosed by the symptoms a person experiences during sleep and by sleep tests. However, the symptoms of sleep apnea can usually be noticed by the person himself or his close circle. Sleep apnea symptoms include:
- Snore
- stopping breathing while sleeping
- Frequent waking up throughout the night
- daytime naps
- morning headache
- Fatigue and weakness
What harm does sleep apnea cause?
When left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and other serious health problems. Additionally, sleep apnea reduces sleep quality, can lead to daytime sleepiness, and negatively impact overall quality of life. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to many serious health problems. These:
- daytime fatigue
- proneness to accidents
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- liver disease
- Depression
- memory problems
- sexual dysfunction
- Headache
How do people with sleep apnea sleep?
The sleep patterns of people with sleep apnea vary depending on the severity of apnea and the treatment applied. In mild cases of sleep apnea, patients can sleep relatively comfortably without waking up frequently at night. However, in moderate and severe cases of sleep apnea, patients may become breathless and wake up many times during the night. This can lead to symptoms such as daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. People with sleep apnea can try these methods to improve their sleep patterns:
- CPAP therapy
- lifestyle changes
- intraoral devices
- Positional therapy
How to cure sleep apnea?
A sleep apnea test is a test used to determine whether you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea testing is usually done in a sleep laboratory. Sensors are worn to monitor various functions of the body during the test. These sensors monitor things like breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels and brain waves. Sleep apnea treatment varies depending on the underlying cause. In mild cases of sleep apnea, lifestyle changes alone may be sufficient for treatment. Some of these changes are as follows:
- Lose weight
- Avoiding alcohol and smoking
- exercising regularly
- changing sleeping position
In more severe cases of sleep apnea, non-surgical sleep apnea treatment can be applied. Non-surgical sleep apnea treatment is performed with a sleep apnea device, namely CPAP. CPAP is a device that provides gentle air pressure to keep the airways open during sleep. CPAP is given through the nose or mouth through a mask and a tube. However, in some cases, surgery may also be an option. Surgery involves reshaping the throat or jaw to widen the airways.
Note: This content is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about sleep apnea, it is important to consult a doctor.