The cessation of breathing during sleep is called apnea (10 seconds or more). OSAS can be diagnosed and graded by looking at the hourly average throughout the night. Its frequency in the population is between 1-4%. It is more common in men, in people with short-thick necks, in older people, in people with large tongues and obesity, and in those with a familial predisposition.
The presence of witnessed apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness and snoring in the history are important findings, but also for a definitive diagnosis. A special test called polysomnography is required in which respiratory muscles, abdominal movements, air flow, eye movements and electrical activities of the brain are measured during sleep. It is diagnosed and graded with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).
While mild cases benefit from weight loss, not lying on their back, some intraoral applications or nasal sprays, in cases where this index is above 15, CPAP or APAP are used. It is necessary to use compressor devices that deliver pressurized air and keep the respiratory tract open. Avoiding smoking, alcohol and sleeping pills can also provide relief for these patients. The most important problem regarding OSAS is to prevent the development of complications such as respiratory failure, heart failure, hypertension, stroke, traffic accidents, decrease in concentration ability or angry-aggressive personality caused by this disease.
The most that patients with OSA should do is The important thing is to use these devices regularly, try not to gain weight, and go for a check-up as soon as complaints such as sleepiness increase.
Patients using CPAP, BiPAP or APAP devices should have their device settings checked at regular intervals and the problems they encounter when using the device or mask. It needs to be clarified. For example, the patient's nose being blocked, gaining weight, or tearing the mask can seriously disrupt device compliance; these should be reviewed and other factors that disrupt compliance should also be investigated.
Read: 0
