Sleep apnea, one of the most important diseases caused by snoring, is defined as stopping breathing during sleep. This condition, in which breathing stops and becomes shallow during sleep and can cause temporary or permanent damage to all systems, can continue throughout the night and sometimes go unnoticed. Loud snoring is not necessarily required to have sleep apnea. Sometimes it can occur very silently.
If necessary precautions are not taken against sleep apnea, heart and respiratory system diseases, brain and psychological problems may occur. It can also cause traffic accidents and work accidents by causing carelessness.
What are the Causes of Sleep Apnea?
There are various reasons that lead to sleep apnea. These are;
-all obstructive conditions in the lower and upper respiratory tract (nasal cartilage curvature, nasal flesh growth, chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, adenoid, soft palate, uvula, tongue, tongue root, pathologies, tonsils such as being too large, lesions taking up space in the larynx)
-Facial features; face shape, lower jaw dimensions, neck length, etc.
-Obesity
-Hyperthyroid
-Smoking and alcohol consumption
-A lot Although rare, a brain disorder in which the brain stops sending respiratory signals for short periods of time at night can cause sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Stopping breathing during sleep is one of the most important symptoms of sleep apnea. Restlessness during sleep, snoring, frequent urination, sweating, dry mouth and reflux are among the other symptoms.
At the same time, headache, forgetfulness, depression, lack of attention, inability to sleep, not being able to wake up fresh in the morning and extremely sleepy. Being the symptoms of sleep apnea observed during the daytime.
How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
The first thing to do for the treatment of sleep apnea is to eliminate this problem, if there is obesity. If there are significant anatomical stenosis in the upper respiratory tract, the patient should be examined by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. If necessary, sleep patients should be evaluated by a council consisting of an ENT specialist, pulmonologist and neurologist.
Another method used in the treatment of sleep apnea. is positive air pressure (CRAP). The patient should be taken under control by adjusting the automatic settings or switching to a constant pressure device according to the treatment effect and the patient's preference.
The use of devices that deliver compressed air to keep the airway open at all times is the original treatment of sleep apnea.
>How to Prevent Sleep Apnea?
It is possible to prevent sleep apnea by taking easy precautions. The most important modifiable risk factor for this disease is obesity. Sleep apnea can be reduced by losing weight. However, unless the underlying pathologies are resolved, full treatment is impossible. At the same time, staying away from alcohol and sleeping pills, quitting smoking and not sleeping on your back also reduces this discomfort.
Read: 0
