Sleepless nights? Know that sleep apnea can be behind it

Breathing interruptions and noise production: this is the sleep apnea. Those who treat the disease as the simple act of snoring are wrong.

considered a sleep disorder, apnea is noisy, with periods interspersed with gagging that are often not noticed by the sleeper.

These breath stops they decrease the concentration of oxygen in the blood and, consequently, generate an agitation of the nervous system that increases the rhythm of the heart beats and incites the contraction of the blood vessels.

The picture of problems caused by the disorder also include an increase in abdominal fat levels and, for diabetics, insulin resistance.

It is important to remember that sleep apnea is also considered a risk factor for those suffering from high pressure and cardiac arrhythmia.

Symptoms and signs of sleep apnea

Among the symptoms most common for those who live with sleep apnea, the following stand out:

• Difficulty breathing;
• Constant and uninterrupted snoring;
• Restless sleep;
• Feeling of suffocation during sleep;
• Recurring headaches when waking up;
• Problems concentrating for activities throughout the day
• Drowsiness at different times of the day.

Main risk factors

Associated with other diseases and lifestyle habits, apnea may be more recurrent in the following cases:

• Obesity;
• People with a shortened lower jaw that ends up pushing the tongue back and getting in the way of the throat;
• Consuming too much alcohol;
• Smoking;
• Breathing problems arising from the tonsils and adenoids;
• Presence of tumors;
• Lie on your stomach;
• Constant use of sedatives.

Discovering Apnea: Diagnosis

It is unanimously said that the starting point for detecting apnea is the constant noise emitted during sleep.

Therefore, it is important that the patient's family members observe their sleep and begin to report what happens during this period.

To measure the quality of sleep, a test known as polysomnography. Performed in a specialized laboratory or clinic, the patient sleeps all night connected to a device that at all times records heart rate, eye movement, brain activity, blood oxygen and more important: the breathing.

There is also the possibility of monitoring sleep through a portable device attached to the wrist and two fingers of the hand. At bedtime, the device indicates the individual's sleep conditions. Then, the doctor who will analyze the information contained in the device.

What is the treatment for sleep apnea?

Initially, the doctor needs to analyze the patient's health history, noting if any other illness is causing the apnea.

For example, if the person is obese, one of the treatment measures is weight loss, associated with the practice of speech therapy exercises to help strengthen the throat muscles.

In cases of milder apneas, commonly generated by the bad habit of breathing through the mouth, it is possible to be solved only with the use of nostril dilators.

For people with a short jaw, a visit to the orthodontist is essential for correcting the bite and lengthening the jaw using devices designed to project this bone.

Another effective way to treat apnea is to try to resolve pauses in breathing during sleep. For this, the doctor suggests the use of a mechanism called CPAP, which in translation from English means “continuous positive airway pressure”.

In the image, a person sleeping with the help of CPAP, a device responsible for “throwing” air into the airways

It is a mask placed between the nose and mouth and which is responsible for throwing air into the airways. The method is considered effective and standard for cases of sleep disorders resulting from apnea.

However, in cases resulting from problems in the structure of the nose or face, surgical procedures are the most indicated.

See too:

• 8 Problems That Lack of Sleep Can Cause for Your Health
• Sleep paralysis: causes, symptoms and treatment