What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea: what is it?

Sleep apnea syndrome is a sleep disorder in which breathing stops several times during sleep and respiratory flow decreases.
These breathing stops can last from a few seconds to several minutes and are repeated during sleep, which disrupts the sleep cycle.
There are 3 types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form. When the throat muscles relax too much, airways such as the nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx become blocked. Breathing therefore stops for a few moments. This apnea is also accompanied by loud snoring.

• Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a less common form of sleep apnea. It results from a neurological problem. The brain is unable to send signals to the breathing muscles, resulting in pauses in breathing; here, there is no obstruction of the airway.

• Mixed apnea is a mixture of the two previous apneas; here there is an obstruction of the airways, as well as a lack of signaling.

Causes of sleep apnea

There are different factors linked to sleep apnea.

First, sleep apnea can be caused by anatomical factors such as the size and shape of the airway. People with smaller airways are more likely to have sleep apnea because their airways can become blocked more easily during sleep. Additionally, the shape of the jaw can increase the chances of suffering from sleep apnea. A small jaw reduces the space in the airway, which, again, increases the risk of obstruction.

Then there are risk factors such as being overweight, age, gender, family history, and even alcohol, tobacco, and sedative use. Obese people accumulate a lot of fat, which puts pressure on the airways. In addition, older people have throat muscles that relax more than when they were younger, increasing the risk of airway obstruction.

Symptoms of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea causes many nighttime and daytime symptoms often caused by unrestful sleep.

Nighttime symptoms include loud snoring , pauses in breathing , and waking up with a start and a feeling of suffocation .

And among the daytime symptoms, we can see great fatigue , drowsiness throughout the day, difficulty concentrating , memory problems , headaches , and very strong irritability .

The risks of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea not only impacts sleep, but also a person's overall health and quality of life.

To begin with, sleep apnea increases cardiovascular risks such as hypertension , caused by high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease. In fact, sleep apnea increases the risk of heart attack and heart failure.

In addition, sleep apnea has consequences on the quality of life, in fact we observe chronic fatigue due to non-restorative sleep, as well as an impact on concentration , memory and productivity caused by a lack of physical and mental recovery.

Treatments for sleep apnea

Sleep apnea can be treated by completely changing a person's lifestyle, using medical devices, surgical procedures, or therapies.

Change of lifestyle

When it comes to lifestyle changes, a person suffering from sleep apnea can start by losing weight . Indeed, the majority of sufferers are overweight, so losing weight would allow them to lose fat and therefore reduce pressure on the airways. For weight loss, contact your doctor or a nutritionist. Rebalancing towards a healthier diet and regular physical activity could help achieve this goal.

Then, stopping smoking and alcohol consumption would help restore healthy airways, which would significantly reduce sleep apnea.

There are also alternative therapies for all these changes.
To begin with, you need to pay attention to your positioning during sleep . In fact, sleeping on your back blocks the airways and increases sleep apnea.

There are also jaw and tongue exercises to strengthen their muscles and reduce the risk of sleep apnea.

Medical devices

Furthermore, if these natural treatments do not work, there are medical devices that help reduce sleep apnea.

Continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP ) is a breathing assistance device that delivers airflow at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure into the airways through a mask worn over the nose or mouth. CPAP improves sleep quality and reduces sleep apnea.

Dental appliances also help reduce the risk of sleep apnea. They hold the lower jaw forward during sleep, opening the airway as much as possible.

The surgical intervention

Surgery is also an option for treating sleep apnea, either through airway surgery , such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or maxillofacial surgery, or through implants that stimulate the nerve that controls the muscles of the tongue.

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