Sleep Medicine Centre / Sleep apnoea
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Sleep apnoea

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Sleep apnoea

One of the areas treated at the Sleep Medicine Centre is breathing disorders, i.e. sleep apnoea. It involves repeated breathing stops and a subsequent decrease in oxygen saturation in the blood.

The main symptoms are snoring, gasping and excessive daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms include morning headaches, dry mouth, fatigue, lack of concentration and depression.

 

 

It is a disease that is most common in men and people who are overweight or obese, and in those with cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Complications of untreated apnea include just the development of diabetes and obesity, as well as arterial hypertension. The risk of stroke, heart attack or arrhythmias is also increased. It has also been shown to impair cognitive functions such as concentration, memory and attention.

 

How is the examination carried out?

You will attend the Centre at a pre-arranged time and report to reception. You will then be met by an outpatient clinic staff member and escorted to the surgery. Bring a referral from the attending physician, or other additional documentation (report from a pulmonologist, neurologist, cardiologist, etc.). During the initial examination, the doctor will discuss your problems with you and determine the next course of action. If you are referred for limited polygraphy, a sleep technician will then take over and guide you through the entire examination process.

 

Limited polygraphy

Limited polygraphy is a simple and usually sufficient procedure to establish a diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome. It is a one-night examination that is usually performed on an outpatient basis.

It is based on simultaneous recording of respiratory effort (abdominal and chest belt), airway flow (nasal cannula), heart rate and hemoglobin oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter.

Evaluation and follow-up of limited polygraphy

The main outcome of limited polygraphy is the average number of respiratory events per hour of sleep (this is the so-called apnoea/hypopnoea index AHI). At your next check-up you will be informed about the results of the measurements. If you are found to have moderate or severe sleep apnoea, you will be referred for treatment with a CPAP machine. Setting up treatment is done during an overnight hospitalization at the Sleep Medicine Center (or by appointment at home). Once therapy is successfully established, the device will be requested through your health insurance company so that you can keep it for use.

More about sleep apnea

Sleep apnoea syndrome is a serious condition characterised by the patient repeatedly stopping breathing in their sleep. Due to the breathing stops, the supply of oxygen to the patient's body is disrupted which affects his health. The brain sends a signal to wake up every time the breathing stops, making it impossible to reach a deep stage of sleep.

Sleep apnoea is divided into three main types depending on the cause:

  1. Obstructive sleep apnoea is one of the most common and its causes are anatomical. It is caused by mechanical closure of the airway during sleep.
  2. Central sleep apnoea is a rarer form in which there is also an interruption of breathing.
  3. Mixed sleep apnoea is a combination of the previous two types.

What causes sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea is caused by relaxation of the muscles in the back of the throat supporting the soft tissues (palate, tonsils, cone, lateral walls of the larynx). The tissues narrow or close completely, creating an obstruction tobreathing. The body then suffers from a lack of oxygen and uncomfortable pressure in the lungs. The brain assesses this as a danger and wakes the patient up, thereby restoring the airway. The person in question usually does not remember this because it is a very brief episode. The frequency of awakenings in one night is quite high. The disease does not affect any group and can affect anyone. Children are no exception.

Risk factors for sleep apnoea

NECK CIRCUIT
A larger and thicker neck puts you at greater risk for the disease. In men, the cut-off neck circumference is 43 cm, in women it is usually 38 cm.
AGE
People of older age are more likely to develop sleep apnoea.
FAMILY HISTORY
If a loved one has sleep apnoea, then the likelihood of the disease is higher.
SMOKING
Smokers have up to three times the risk of getting the disease. If you stop smoking, your risk goes down.
NARROWING OF THE AIRWAYS
Inherited or caused by enlargement of the tonsils (often in children).
ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES
They have the effect of relaxing the muscles in the throat, which promotes the onset of the disease.
BAGGED NOSE
Poses a higher risk of disease in case of allergy or due to anatomical predisposition.

How to fight sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea can be successfully treated! The therapy itself is very individual and depends mainly on the cause and severity of the disease. The most common tips to alleviate the symptoms of the disease include:

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes only help if it is a milder form of the disease.
In this regard, the following in particular contribute:

Weight reduction - fat tissue can block the airways and cause apnoea. Therefore, weight loss helps to relax the airways and improve breathing.

Exercise - regular exercise will improve the health of your lungs and heart, which of course also leads to improved breathing. It naturally helps with weight loss as well.

Avoiding addictive substances - alcohol, cigarettes and sedative drugs relax the muscles in the throat and cause them to become flaccid, which in turn leads to worsening of sleep apnea. Therefore, you should avoid consuming these substances, especially immediately before bedtime.

Improving sleep habits - this includes regular sleep, sleeping on your side instead of your back and avoiding caffeine before going to bed.

Sleep apnoea pillows

Sleep apnoea pillows are designed to promote correct head and neck positioning, which can help relieve symptoms. The use of an appropriate pillow is often part of a comprehensive treatment approach, and it is important to consult with a physician or sleep disorder specialist about pillow selection and other treatments.

Use of CPAP therapy

This therapy is one of the most commonly used therapies to treat sleep apnea. A CPAP machine works by delivering a constant stream of pressurized air into the airways through a mask, keeping the airways open during sleep and allowing normal airflow to the lungs. This process thus helps to eliminate frequent and uncomfortable interruptions in breathing.

Stress therapy

Stress therapy can improve sleep apnea by improving sleep quality, reducing inflammation, and promoting healthy habits such as weight loss. Reducing stress also improves medication adherence, which is key to effectively managing the disease. Overall, it also contributes to better physical and mental well-being.

The most common reasons for screening

Excessive daytime insomnia

snoring with or without respiratory arrest

insomnia at night

gnashing of teeth during sleep and much more

feeling of poor quality sleep at night

 

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