Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Transcription

1 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Page 1 of 10 MC Obstructive Sleep Apnea

2 What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Obstructive Sleep Apnea (ap-ne a) is a relatively common medical condition which affects between one and five per cent of the population. Sleep apnea is more common in men than women and is found with greater frequency in people who are overweight and/or aging. This condition is best described as breathing that starts and stops during sleep. Complete stoppages of breathing are called apneas. Partial obstructions to breathing are called hypopneas (hi po-ne a). These stoppages or obstructions take place when muscles in the back of the throat relax during sleep. This causes the airway to narrow or close. As many as five of these episodes per hour of sleep are considered normal. When more than five episodes occur per hour of sleep, a diagnosis of sleep apnea is usually made. Patients with severe sleep apnea have more than one apnea or hypopnea every minute they are asleep. While these pauses in breathing usually last between 20 and 30 seconds, they 1 Page 2 of 10 MC Obstructive Sleep Apnea

3 occasionally will last up to one minute. When breathing stops, the level of oxygen in the bloodstream falls, sometimes to dangerously low levels. The brain senses this decrease in oxygen and briefly rouses the person from sleep. At this point the muscles in the back of the throat become more active and hold the airway open so that breathing can resume. These wakings make it very hard to get a good night's sleep. What are the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Soft, rhythmic snoring is not believed to have any significant adverse effects on health. However, when snoring becomes loud with changes in its intensity, breathing may be impaired and sleep disrupted. Close observation often reveals pauses in breathing or periods where the individual appears to be struggling to breathe. These episodes usually end when the sleeper rouses for a moment and makes a loud snorting noise as breathing resumes. Occasionally individuals will awaken from sleep feeling short of breath. When these episodes happen often, fatigue and sleepiness during the day are the result. At first this problem may be mild, with the individual falling asleep easily while reading or watching television. As the apneas become more frequent, it will be more difficult to stay awake while doing 2 Page 3 of 10 MC Obstructive Sleep Apnea

4 active things such as driving a car or working at a job. Because lack of sleep is very stressful, affected people may become irritable, undergo changes in personality, or have difficulty with memory. Occasionally they will experience headaches in the morning as well as sexual dysfunction. Sleep apnea is often associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). When apnea is severe, heart failure may occur. Most people with sleep apnea are substantially overweight. Nasal congestion is often present which means that breathing is done through the mouth. This produces dryness and soreness of the mouth in the morning. Any condition that contributes to the narrowing in the back of the throat such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids favors the development of sleep apnea. How is Obstructive Sleep Apnea evaluated? Consult your physician if you have loud snoring, intermittent pauses in your breathing and excessive daytime sleepiness. The physician may then refer you to a sleep disorders center where experts will thoroughly evaluate the problem. This often involves overnight monitoring of sleep. 3 Page 4 of 10 MC Obstructive Sleep Apnea

5 A test called polysomnography (pol'esom-nog'ra-fe) is done to count the number of irregular breathing events and measure their duration. The test notes oxygen levels in the blood and will tell if irregularities of the heartbeat go along with decreased breathing. The amount and quality of sleep are tested as well as the effect of sleeping positions on your breathing. Prior to the test, wires will be attached to your body to record your brain wave activity, movements of your eyes, muscle activity, heart beat and the movement of your chest and abdomen. The oxygen level in your blood will be recorded from a device clipped onto your ear or placed on your finger. A microphone is commonly used to record your snoring pattern. In addition to overnight polysomnography, a thorough examination of the nose, mouth, throat and neck is performed. If surgery is being considered, X-rays of the upper airway frequently are recommended. What can be done to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea and snoring? Effective treatment is available for almost all patients. For patients with snoring and mild sleep apnea, a conservative approach to therapy is 4 Page 5 of 10 MC Obstructive Sleep Apnea

6 recommended. The following suggestions are often helpful: Reduce weight Avoid alcohol and medications such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills. These medications relax the muscles in the back of the throat and depress breathing. Sleep on your side or your stomach rather than on your back. Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and soft palate to collapse against the back of your throat, blocking the airway. * Use oral medications prescribed or recommended by your physician to help you breathe through your nose during sleep. Nasal obstruction increases the frequency of snoring and disordered breathing during sleep. For patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea, therapy with a medical device called nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be recommended. This device delivers room air to the nose and back of the throat at a slightly elevated pressure to keep the airway from collapsing during sleep. This therapy is safe, generally well-tolerated and highly effective. However, not all patients will choose to do this since the device must be worn nightly. 5 Page 6 of 10 MC Obstructive Sleep Apnea

7 For some individuals, surgery may be recommended. Surgery may range from procedures designed to open the nose, enlarge the back of the throat or allow air direct access to the lungs via a tube placed into the windpipe. Medications are generally not very effective in treating sleep apnea. 6 Page 7 of 10 MC Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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10 Mayo Press 200 First Street SW Rochester, MN , Mayo Press MAYO, MAYO CLINIC and the Mayo triple-shield logo are registered marks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. MC /R1194 Page 10 of 10 MC Obstructive Sleep Apnea