Obstructive Sleep Apnea
About 45 percent of adults, both men and women, have snoring problems. This problem is more common in middle-aged and elderly men. As sleep progresses from light to deep, the muscles of the palate, tongue and throat relax and partially block the airway, causing snoring. We don't think of snoring as a big problem but its other form is obstructive sleep apnea, which is a very dangerous health problem.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Such patients usually fall asleep at bedtime and start snoring. But at some point the patient stopped breathing completely. The patient starts gasping for breath, the oxygen level in the blood decreases. At one point the patient fell asleep; The patient started breathing normally again. As the body is tired, he quickly becomes drowsy again, the snoring process resumes. This cycle continues throughout the night. Sometimes the patient himself does not realize that this is happening.
Other symptoms besides snoring include headache, morning heaviness, daytime sleepiness or sleepiness, cognitive decline, inability to concentrate, personality changes, depression or anger, high blood pressure, frequent urination in children, aggression. or learning difficulties. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea also have a higher risk of death. Such as cardiac arrest, heart failure, stroke, arrhythmia and sudden death in children. Drowsy driving increases the risk of accidents during the day.
Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis
Nasal endoscopy, throat x-ray, chest x-ray, ECG, some routine general blood tests may be required. A test called polysomnography is used to diagnose sleep apnea. After admitting the patient to the hospital, in a special system, several leads (meters) are placed in different parts of the body and sleep is arranged. It measures sleep disturbances, blood oxygen carrying capacity, brain waves, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing rate, sleep stages, eye and leg movements.
Obstructive sleep apnea treatment at home
If you are overweight, reduce it. People who are overweight may have extra tissue in the throat, which contributes to snoring.
Sleep on your side. A folded tongue compresses the airway at the back of the throat and partially blocks airflow. For this it is better to sleep on the side.
Smoking and drinking habits should be given up.
Avoid sleeping pills.
Excessive work during the day should also be avoided.
Maintain room humidity. When indoor air becomes too dry, nasal membranes dry out. Then the throat muscles vibrate more. snoring
Practice Pranayama. It controls breathing, improves blood circulation. Sleep is better. Do some very light exercises, which will strengthen your throat and mouth muscles. Keep the head pillow slightly higher while sleeping.
Avoid spicy food. Eating excessively spicy foods can trigger an overactive stomach acid reaction.
Obstructive sleep apnea treatment
In children, the main cause is inflammation or enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids. If it is caused by these, then surgical removal is the wisest course of action.
If there is a problem with the nose, it should be treated. Nasal allergies can be controlled with medication.
If the nasal bones are crooked, surgery should be performed by a surgeon.
A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine can be used in the nose. The machine has to be used every night while sleeping. Although it seems strange and unusual at first sight, patients begin to reap the benefits once they start using it.
Nasal strips or an external nasal dilator may also be used.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Causes
Those with abnormal face, sinus problems, crooked nasal bones, sinus inflammation, alcohol consumption, allergies, colds, overweight, are at risk. Snoring is more common in children when the adenoids are enlarged, tonsils are enlarged due to frequent infections. It can happen even if there is a family history of obstructive sleep apnea.
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