Are you regularly kept awake at night by your loved one's snoring? But the problem is not limited to the inconvenience delivered to others. Sleep apnea can be really dangerous, leading to many fairly serious he alth problems. From the Greek language, the term "apnea" is translated as "stopping breathing." Of course, we all voluntarily encounter forced stops in our respiratory movements, for example, during immersion in water. However, unconscious breath holdings lasting from 20 seconds to 3 minutes can eventually lead to disorders that complicate both the physical and psychological state of a person.
Symptoms of disease
Sleep apnea, the symptoms of which everyone needs to know, threatens to stop breathing. However, a person may not feel what is happening during sleep and be unaware of his illness. It is worth paying attention to other obvious signs that characterize sleep apnea. This is:
- Regular snoring.
- Feelingchoking that occurs during sleep.
- Bruised and sleepy throughout the day.
- Morning headache.
- Decreased concentration and irritability.
- Feeling dry in throat and mouth after waking up.
Types of apnea: central absence of breathing
Such a phenomenon as a central lack of breathing is quite rare in medical practice. This type of sleep apnea is characterized by the fact that at a certain point the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the respiratory muscles that control breathing. Because of this, breathing stops. Moreover, patients sleep so restlessly that they are able to remember their nocturnal awakenings. Central sleep apnea can lead to complications such as hypoxia or cardiovascular problems.
Types of apnea: obstructive lack of breathing
More often, doctors are faced with obstructive lack of breathing. In this case, the lumen of the respiratory tract is critically narrowed, the muscles of the pharynx relax, and the air flow is interrupted. Oxygen levels drop and the person is forced to wake up to regain their breath. However, these awakenings are so brief that they are not remembered in the morning. On average, a person suffering from this type of sleep apnea, such attacks of respiratory arrest occur 5-30 times per hour. Naturally, we are not talking about any full-fledged sleep or rest. Obstructive sleep apnea, which should be treated as soon as the first symptoms of the disease are detected, can lead to a number of disorders withhe alth and well-being.
Types of apnea: complex breathing
This type of apnea has all the characteristic features of both central and obstructive respiratory rhythm disturbance. Periodic pauses in breathing in combination with obstruction of the upper respiratory tract accompany a person throughout sleep. This sleep apnea syndrome requires immediate diagnosis and treatment, as it threatens with quite serious consequences, such as the development of coronary heart disease.
Apnea in children
Despite the fact that we are accustomed to consider this problem more of an age problem, it can also occur in children. Babies with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, lowering of the sky and chin, and an underdeveloped nervous system are at risk. Premature babies, newborns with Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy are also more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. The cause may be medications taken by a nursing mother. Parents should be alerted by loud breathing during sleep, wheezing or nocturnal cough, long intervals between breaths. The child does not get enough sleep, sweats and looks restless during wakefulness.
The most dangerous form of the disease is the obstructive form. The child's face turns pale, fingers and lips become bluish, the heartbeat slows down, and muscle tone decreases. Sleep apnea in children requires immediate medical attention, as it is believed that the disease can lead to sudden infant death syndrome.
Causes of sleep apnea
Hard orimpaired patency of the upper respiratory tract leads to a condition called apnea by doctors. Most often, people with overweight or any inflammation of the respiratory tract suffer from the disease. The causes of sleep apnea can vary:
- Obesity, especially in cases where significant deposits of fat are located on the neck.
- Neurological disorders that cause the brain to "forget" how to breathe during sleep.
- Curvature of the nasal septum, as well as other anomalies in the structure of the respiratory tract.
- Bad habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
- Uncomfortable sleeping position.
- Age-related changes associated with deterioration of muscle tone.
What is the danger of sleep apnea
Hypoxia is the main danger of sleep apnea. A decrease in oxygen levels to a minimum level leads to the fact that a person calms down, the skin turns blue, and a signal is sent to the brain that it is necessary to wake up. Upon awakening, a person inhales oxygen, thereby restoring disturbed breathing. This state of affairs is by no means normal. A person chronically does not get enough sleep, not being able to plunge into a much-needed deep sleep. This leads to constant stress, disturbances in the work of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. In this regard, the level of injuries at work and at home is increasing.
Often, in patients with sleep apnea, the level of morning pressure rises, the heart rhythm is disturbed, which leads to the development of ischemia, stroke,atherosclerosis. Against the background of apnea, the condition of patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as lung pathologies, worsens. As a significant side effect, one can also note the suffering of loved ones who are forced not to get enough sleep next to a regularly snoring person.
Diagnosis of apnea
To determine the severity of the problem, the patient's relatives play the most important role, who, according to the method of V. I. Rovinsky, record the duration of respiratory pauses and their number with a stopwatch. The doctor during the examination determines the patient's body mass index. It is dangerous if the UTI is above 35. In this case, obesity of the second degree is diagnosed. Normal neck volume should not exceed 40 cm for women and 43 cm for men. A blood pressure reading above 140/90 could also indicate a problem.
When diagnosing, consultation with an otolaryngologist is mandatory. At this stage, he alth problems such as deviated septum, polyps, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis and rhinitis are identified. A polysomnographic study allows you to register all electrical potentials, the level of respiratory activity, the number and duration of seizures during sleep. In some cases, sleep apnea is not sleep apnea. Breathing while screaming with certain irregularities may indicate the onset of asthma or other he alth problems.
Severity of disease
In order to determine the severity of sleep apnea, it is necessary to calculate the average number of attacks of respiratory arrest per hour. Up to five episodesthere is no problem, up to 15 - a mild syndrome, up to 30 - an average degree. More than 30 attacks are considered a severe form of the disease, requiring immediate medical attention. The method of treatment is determined by the doctor based on the patient's state of he alth, and traditional medicine becomes a tool that helps to quickly get rid of the problem.
Treatment
Treatment for sleep apnea is always to eliminate the cause that caused the problem. Adenoids and tonsils are surgically removed, a deviated nasal septum is also brought back to normal, allowing a person to breathe fully. People who are obese are prescribed treatment to normalize their weight. Reducing weight by only 5 kilograms in many cases helps to get rid of the problem. In diseases of a neurological nature, medical intervention is required. They also prescribe breath-stimulating drugs, for example, Theophylline or Acetazolamide.
If the cause of sleep apnea is a flabby palate, then the radio wave method helps to strengthen it, as well as change the configuration. Local anesthesia, the absence of a long rehabilitation period and high efficiency have made the method the most popular today. The operation lasts only 20 minutes, after an hour the patient goes home, and the next night he spends without the painful bouts of apnea that have become habitual. Treatments such as liquid nitrogen or laser are also popular and effective. But the healing of the palate after manipulation is slower, causing the person a little discomfort.
In severe casesCPAP therapy is used. A special device, which is a mask connected to a device that creates pressure, is put on the patient's nose before going to bed. The pressure is selected in such a way that it is easy and comfortable for a person to breathe. Less popular sleep apnea treatments include jaw braces and adhesive strips that widen the gaps in the nasal passages, pillows that force a person to sleep exclusively in the sideways position.
Folk treatments
Alternative medicine offers many options for getting rid of sleep apnea. Simple and affordable recipes will be a great help to the traditional treatment of the disease.
- To moisturize the mucous membranes of the throat and nose, before going to bed, rinse your nose with s alt water, which is poured into the palm of your hand, pulled in by your nose and immediately blow your nose. To prepare the mixture, you need to dissolve a teaspoon of sea s alt in a glass of warm water.
- Cabbage juice has also long been used in the treatment of sleep apnea. A teaspoon of honey is added to a glass of freshly squeezed juice. The drink should be consumed within a month before bedtime.
- Healing sea buckthorn oil will help to improve nasal breathing. It is enough to instill 5 drops of oil into each nostril for several weeks before going to bed. This method helps to remove inflammation from the tissues of the nasopharynx, has a healing effect, and restores blood circulation.
- Carrots have proven their effectiveness in treating snoring. It is necessary to eat one baked root vegetable three times a day before meals.
- Yogacan also be used as a treatment for sleep apnea. Simple exercises performed 30 times in the morning and before bed will help you forget about the attacks of the disease. Push your tongue forward, while lowering to the chin. Hold your tongue in this position for two seconds. Press your hand on your chin and move your jaw back and forth with some effort.
- The easiest and most enjoyable way to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea is to sing. Just sing daily for half an hour, strengthening the muscles of the pharynx. This method is really effective.
Such a sleep apnea treatment with folk remedies will help to cope with the problem, subject to all the doctor's recommendations and subsequent preventive measures.
Syndrome prevention
Overweight people need to review their diet and lose weight. Smoking and alcohol are also among the main causes leading to sleep apnea. Giving up these bad habits in many cases helps to get rid of the problem forever. Tonic drinks, including a cup of your favorite coffee in the afternoon, can also lead to sleep apnea. It is enough to limit the intake of such drinks to a reasonable minimum.
The firm mattress and low pillow will make it easier to breathe while you sleep. Train yourself to sleep on your stomach. This will help prevent recurrence of sleep apnea. Hiking before bed, soothing baths, massage - a good prevention of the problem that prevents you from getting enough sleep and leading to many he alth problems.
