SLEEP APNEA

It means pauses or abnormally low breathing during sleep, which can last from few second to few minutes during sleep & and may occur 5 to 30 time per hour. This is common problem. It can our at any age , but in middle age about 0.9 percent females and about 2.4 percent males are affected in various severity. It have the serious impact on physical, mental, social well being of the individual. It can be diagnosed by overnight sleep test called polysomnogram or sleep study.

TYPES OF SLEEP APNEA

There are three types of sleep Apnea

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA:-

About 84 percent of patients suffer from this type of sleep Apnea. Muscle tone of body decreases during sleep, so air way is compressed which can obstruct the breathing during sleep. This type of sleep Apnea is more common in the obese elderly men smokers, alcoholic’s persons with broad neck (more than 16 inch) who have enlarged tonsil or large tongue.

The usually snore loudly have restless sleep. Sleep is interrupted many times during night; they don’t feel refresh and active during the day. They may fall asleep when doing boring work. They may have headache in morning, are irritable during the day. They are at high or risk of heart attacks stroke, high blood pressure accidents and sudden death. They may suffer from sexual dysfunction

CENTRAL SLEEP APNEA

Brain controls the respiration. Brain respiratory centers are depressed during sleep. During sleep in these patients breathing centers don’t react quickly to chemical and neural feedback signals so breathing stops. There is no chest movement. After brief period of Apnea, breathing again resume and the cycles are repeated hundreds of time during sleep.

This can occur more commonly if individual who consume respiratory depressant drings like heroin, opiates

In people suffering from epilepsy decreased oxygen may precipitatein people suffering from coronary heart disease attack the sudden drop in oxygen level may cause angina arrhythmia or even heart attack. About 4 percents suffer from central sleep Apnea.

MIXED SLEEP APNEA:-

This is the combination of obstructive sleep Apnea and central sleep Apnea. About 13 percent suffer from mixed sleep Apnea.

Regardless the type of patients sleep Apnea, are rarely aware of the problem themselves. It is usually recognized by others witnessing the person during sleep. Or it may be suspected due to Its ill effects like day time sleepiness fatigue etc.

MANAGEMENT

Sleep Apnea is a serious disease as it decreases efficiency, make prone to heart disease efficiency, make prone to heart disease stroke, high blood pressure, accidents sexual problem. So it needs treatment.

They should avoid alcohol sleeping pills muscle relaxant

They should lose weight

They should quit smoking

They should sleep with head and of bed raised to 30

They should do oropharyngeal muscle exercise so that throat muscle become stronger

Patients suffering from sleep Apnea can use C-PAP machine while sleeping which provide the air under a definite pressure so air way don’t close. Patients sleep soundly and get relief from problems arising from the sleep apnea.

Patients who can’t tolerate the C-CAP machine or not relieved by it should undergo surgery which widen the airway.

Dr.J.L.Agarwal

Prof & Head, Physiology,

SIMS, Hapur, (Ghaziabad)

3, Gyan Lok Mayur Vihar

E-Shastri Nagar

Meerut (UP) 250 004.

Ph: 09760777197

Email: drjlagarwal123@gmail.com