Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterised by breathing that stops and starts suddenly while sleeping. Worldwide, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) affects an estimated 93.6 crore adults, with snoring being the most common symptom, affecting 94% of patients. If left untreated, the condition can lead to serious complications, which, in some cases, can be life-threatening.
In this article, we discuss the various treatments associated with sleep apnoea, in particular the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, and share how one can assess their need for the same.
Also Read: How Maintaining A Sleep Schedule Boosts Your Heart Health: Ways To Create One
Recognising Sleep Apnoea
Before we discuss ways to detect sleep apnoea, we must first understand the different types of sleep apnoea, which include Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), Central Sleep Apnoea (CSA) and Mixed/Complex Sleep Apnoea Syndrome.
Dr Srivatsa Lokeshwaran, Lead Consultant and Head of Department - Interventional Pulmonology and Lung Transplant, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, says, “Making a diagnosis usually involves undergoing polysomnography, which assesses body functions during one's sleeping hours, and home-based testing, also known as HSAT.”
“A physical blockage of the airway is responsible for OSA, while CSA happens when one’s brain is incapable of instructing respiratory muscles to facilitate a normal breathing process. The mixed type represents combination elements from both OSA and CSA varieties, thereby making it difficult to diagnose categorically,” he explains.
In general, sleep apnoea is usually identified through loud snoring, gasping for breath while asleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Other signs include:
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Pauses in breathing during sleep by a bed partner
- Individuals may awaken many times at night to use the restroom.
It is important to note that sleep apnea itself is a risk factor for a host of co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, and irregular heart rhythms, according to the doctor.
Common Causes Of Sleep Apnoea
Many factors can cause or contribute to sleep apnea. These include:
- Obesity
- Family history of sleep apnoea
- Narrow upper airway due to pathological cause and genetic tendency
- Hypothyroidism
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Deviated nose partition (septum)
- Large tonsils that obstruct the airway passageway to the lungs or a narrow one due to its small size.
- Lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol and taking sedatives
How Does A CPAP Machine Work?
A CPAP machine provides air through a mask to keep the airway open while one is asleep, says Dr Lokeshwaran.
“It facilitates good sleep by preventing those pauses in breaths that are characteristic of sleep apnea and eventually reducing symptoms experienced during the daytime. The persistent pressure from the air also inhibits the collapse of the airway, thus maintaining enough oxygen amounts,” he explains further.
How To Know If People With Sleep Apnoea Need CPAP Machine?
If a patient has moderate or severe symptoms of sleep apnoea or a polysomnography reveals a significant apnea-hypopnea index, then they might need to use CPAP machines, says Dr Lokeshwaran.
He adds, “Normally, individuals with an Apneoa-Hypopnea Index higher than 15 benefit from using CPAPs. Furthermore, if other treatment methods have failed but symptoms persist, you still find that you may require such kinds of devices.”
Conclusion
While a CPAP machine may help provide relief with severe sleep apnoea, lifestyle adjustments like weight loss, exercise, and physical or positional therapy can also ease symptoms. It is important to note that getting a diagnosis is the first step towards getting proper treatment for sleep apnoea. Consult a doctor to understand how mild or severe your condition is, and based on that, they can help you with an accurate treatment option.
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert if you are dealing with any health issues to get the necessary treatment.]