Do you also suffocate during sleep at night? Let's talk about sleep apnea!

Do you also feel like you're suddenly suffocating when you fall asleep at night? Or does the person you sleep with tell you that you stop breathing for a while at night and start again? Or do you feel tired when you wake up in the morning? These are not just random things, there may be a condition called Sleep Apnea behind these. Let's talk about this in detail, very simply.

What is sleep apnea?

Simply put, sleep apnea is when you temporarily stop breathing while you're sleeping. There are two main reasons for this. One is that there's something blocking your airway (obstructive sleep apnea) . The other is that there's something wrong with your brain's ability to control breathing (central sleep apnea) .

Now think about it, when your body is deprived of oxygen, our body has an amazing safety mechanism. Although this does not wake us up completely, it only wakes us up enough to start breathing. Although this helps save lives, it disrupts your sleep cycle. Therefore, you do not get a good, restful sleep . If this continues, it can also put pressure on your heart , which can be life-threatening if not treated. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of this and seek medical advice if necessary.

What are the main types of Sleep Apnea?

Let's see what the three main types of sleep apnea are.

1. Sleep Apnea (Obstructive Sleep Apnea - OSA)

This is the most common type. What happens is that while you're sleeping, the muscles in your throat relax . The surrounding tissue puts pressure on your windpipe, blocking your airway. It's like you're stuck in a pipe. That's when it becomes difficult to breathe, and sometimes you can stop breathing for a few seconds.

2. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

In this type, when you're asleep, your brain doesn't send the right signals to the muscles involved in breathing . That is, there's a weakness in the center that controls breathing. Here, there's no obstruction to the airway, but the command to "breathe" from the brain doesn't go through properly.

3. Mixed/Complex Sleep Apnea

In this case, the symptoms of both the previously mentioned types of OSA and CSA can be seen together . That is, the airway is blocked, and there may also be some problem with the signals coming from the brain.

How common is this condition called Sleep Apnea?

In fact, it's a more common condition than you might think. One study found that about one billion people worldwide between the ages of 30 and 69 have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) . Although the type called Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is less common than OSA, it's not uncommon either.

What are the symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

If you suspect you have Sleep Apnea, pay attention to these symptoms.

Common symptoms seen by many:

• Frequent waking up in the middle of the night.
• Stopping breathing for a while while sleeping (this is often seen in the person you sleep with).
• Abnormalities in breathing patterns (breathing rapidly, then becoming deep, then shallow again, then stopping and starting again).
• Loud roaring .
• Difficulty breathing when waking up in the morning, feeling like you're suffocating .
• Excessive daytime tiredness, drowsiness, or extreme fatigue upon waking .

Some other people may also experience these symptoms:

• Headache , especially in the morning.
• Night sweats .
• Mood changes (such as depression and anxiety).
• Feeling restless at night.
• Problems such as sexual dysfunction .

Important: When children have Sleep Apnea, these symptoms may look a little different . So it's a good idea to see a doctor if you notice anything unusual in your child's sleep.

What are the main causes of Sleep Apnea?

Simply put, there are two main causes of Sleep Apnea:

• An obstruction in the upper airway while you are sleeping.
• There is a problem with the way your brain regulates breathing while you are sleeping.

Who is at higher risk of developing Sleep Apnea?

This condition can develop in anyone. It can affect children, adults, anyone. However, some people are at a slightly higher risk of developing it.

Here are some common risk factors:

• If someone in the family has Sleep Apnea (it may be hereditary).
• For those with heart disease, stroke, or high blood pressure .
• For those with large tonsils .
• Obesity means being overweight.

This risk also increases as you get older . Men are more likely to be diagnosed with this condition before the age of 50.

Also, remember that although the risk of sleep apnea increases with obesity, this condition can occur in people of any body size .

What are the complications that can occur due to Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is more than just a sleep disorder. If left untreated, it can lead to serious, even life-threatening, complications .

• Excessive daytime sleepiness, or "microsleeps," is a condition in which you fall asleep for very short periods of time during the day. This can be very dangerous when driving or operating machinery .
• Heart rhythm disorders, i.e. arrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation or left atrial appendage).
• High blood pressure .
• Heart damage and heart failure .
• Sudden Cardiac Death .

Therefore, if you have symptoms of Sleep Apnea, don't ignore it.

How to diagnose Sleep Apnea?

If you suspect you have Sleep Apnea, you should first see a doctor . He or she will ask you about your symptoms and your medical history. Then, if you suspect you have Sleep Apnea, they will recommend several tests to confirm the diagnosis.

What tests are being done for this?

There are two main tests that are often performed:

• Polysomnogram: This is a test that takes place overnight in a hospital . Several sensors are attached to your body and monitor your heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels, and brain waves while you sleep.
• Home Sleep Apnea Testing: This is a test that can be done at home . However, it does not monitor brain waves. Also, this test may not detect some types of sleep apnea, such as `Central Sleep Apnea`.

A quick tip: If you suspect that you or someone in your family has sleep apnea, record a short video or audio recording of the person sleeping, especially the sound of their breathing. You can also record by holding a tissue in front of their face to see how the air moves. Showing this to your doctor can help speed up the diagnosis.

How is the severity of Sleep Apnea measured?

Doctors determine the severity of sleep apnea using an index called the AHI (Apnea/Hypopnea Index) . The AHI measures the number of times your breathing stops (apnea) and slows down (hypopnea) during an hour of sleep.

The severity of Sleep Apnea is classified as follows:

• Mild Sleep Apnea: 5-14 AHI events per hour.
• Moderate Sleep Apnea: AHI 15-29 events per hour.
• Severe Sleep Apnea: AHI 30 or more events per hour.

What organs are affected by Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is not something that affects just one organ. In fact, it affects multiple systems in the body . However, the most commonly affected are your circulatory system (heart) and nervous system (brain) .

What are the treatments for Sleep Apnea?

Depending on the type of sleep apnea you have and its severity, your doctor may recommend different treatments.

Here are some of the main treatment methods:

• Using a breathing device, such as a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine , helps keep your airway open while you sleep.
• Controlling other underlying medical conditions that cause or increase the risk of sleep apnea (for example, diabetes, high blood pressure).
• Changing your sleeping position (such as sleeping on your side instead of on your back) to avoid putting pressure on your airway.
• Wearing an oral appliance/mouthpiece to help keep the airway open.
• Using a Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) device to prevent the muscles in your tongue and upper throat from blocking your airway while you sleep.
• Taking medication (this is not for everyone, but in some special cases).
• Undergoing surgery .

Do you perform surgery for sleep apnea?

Yes, in some cases, surgery performed on the nose, mouth, and throat can help prevent airway obstruction while sleeping.

• Jaw surgery: There are various surgical procedures that can be used to change the position of the jaw and relieve pressure on the airway from soft tissues.
• Nasal surgery: A common surgery is septoplasty . This involves straightening the soft tissue inside the nose (the wall that separates the two nostrils), making it easier for air to flow through the nose.

Can Sleep Apnea be completely cured?

Not all types of sleep apnea can be completely cured . For example, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be cured by losing weight or by undergoing certain surgeries. Your doctor can tell you more about how this might work for you, depending on your condition.

What to expect if you have Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is a condition that can severely disrupt your sleep. If you don't get enough sleep at night, you may not be able to function properly during the day. This can put you at risk of accidents , and can interfere with your work, hobbies, and social relationships.

Also, this condition can cause complications that can be life-threatening . A doctor can help you find the best treatment for you. You may need to try one or two different treatments, or a combination of them, to find out what works best for you.

What about the lifespan of someone with Sleep Apnea?

If left untreated, complications from sleep apnea can shorten your life . A doctor can work with you to manage the condition and help prevent those risks.

There are many factors that determine your lifespan. So, the best person to talk to about your situation is your doctor. Because the statistics may or may not apply to you.

What are the ways to prevent Sleep Apnea?

We can't prevent all the factors that contribute to sleep apnea. However, there are things we can do to reduce our risk :

• Maintaining a healthy weight for you.
• Eating nutritious foods and engaging in regular physical activity .
• Establishing good sleep habits (such as going to bed at a set time, stopping using electronic devices before bed).
• Managing other pre-existing health conditions (e.g. high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes).
• Have a medical check-up at least once a year .
• Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol .

How do I take care of myself? How do I manage this situation?

There are several important steps you can take to manage your sleep apnea condition:

• Make lifestyle changes as much as possible. Making changes to your diet and exercise routine can be challenging. If you find these things difficult, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about them. These are common problems, and your doctor can give you suggestions to make them easier.
• Follow your treatment plan exactly. If you follow the treatment plan your doctor gives you exactly, you will get good results. It will also reduce the risk of complications.
• Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling. If you are having trouble following your treatment plan for any reason, tell your doctor. Maybe your PAP mask isn't fitting properly, or you're having a side effect from a medication. Your doctor can help you. So, if you have any questions or concerns, let them know.
• Follow-up visits are recommended by your doctor. These visits are important to make sure your treatment is working, especially in the early stages of treatment.

When should I go to an Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) ?

If you experience any of these symptoms, go to an emergency room immediately :

• Symptoms of a heart attack: Chest pain (like a tightness or squeezing), cold sweats, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.
• Symptoms of a stroke: Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, confusion, vision changes, difficulty walking, or dizziness.
• Severe difficulty breathing: If you feel like you can't get enough air in your lungs, your chest feels tight, or you make a whistling sound when you breathe.

What questions should I ask the doctor?

If you have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may want to ask your doctor questions like:

• What kind of treatment do you recommend for me?
• Are there any side effects of this treatment?
• How can I avoid sleeping on my side?
• What should I do to make the PAP machine mask a little easier to put on?

You may not even know you have sleep apnea unless someone you sleep with tells you about your unusual breathing patterns in the morning. Instead, you may be wondering, "Why can't I sleep well every night?" Sleep apnea is a common, but manageable condition .

Your doctor may suggest a variety of treatments to help you find the right treatment for you. Treatments can vary from person to person. Changing your sleep habits can be challenging, but start small, make one change at a time, and then move on to the next. Your doctor may also give you other recommendations specific to your condition to help you get a good night's sleep every night.

Finally, the most important things to remember

So, from what we've discussed, you should understand what Sleep Apnea is, how it affects you, and what can be done about it.

Don't worry , this is a manageable condition. The most important thing is to seek medical advice if you have symptoms, rather than ignoring them. Then you can sleep soundly and live a healthy life. You are not alone, and there are doctors to help you on this journey.

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