Sleep Apnea
What is sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep because the airway collapses, preventing air from getting into the lungs.
The airways may collapse because of extra tissue (such as large tonsils) in the back of the airway; the tongue may be falling back and blocking the airway; or the tone of the muscles holding the airway open may have decreased.
Obstructive sleep apnea is as common as adult asthma. Four in 100 middle-aged men and two in 100 middle-aged women have obstructive sleep apnea.
Most people who snore excessively have some form of sleep apnea. Most sleep apnea patients are 40 to 60 years old, and 60% of them are men. Excess weight is often a factor.
Severe sleep apnea can deplete the level of oxygen in the blood, creating more risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks or strokes. Failure to treat sleep apnea puts you at higher risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and automobile and work-related accidents.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
- Snoring, interrupted by periods of silence or pauses in breathing
- Gasping or choking during sleep
- Excessive movements during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Excessive sleepiness or fatigue during the day
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Sleep studies can pinpoint the diagnosis of sleep apnea. Mercy’s Neurodiagnostic Sleep Lab provides electrophysiological testing for outpatients and inpatients suffering from sleep disorders.
Treatment varies with the severity of the disorder, the patient’s health history and habits and other factors. Some respond to medication. Often, behavior adjustments can help, such as altering diet, exercising more, avoiding smoking and adopting a more relaxing pre-sleep routine.
In some apnea cases, a constant, positive air-pressure mask (CPAP) or a bi-level positive airway pressure mask (BiPAP) is prescribed. It functions like a splint to prop open the airway so air can flow freely to the lungs. The BiPAP acts like a ventilator to give the lungs a boost of air. The CPAP or BiPAP nose mask connects to a small machine that produces a flow of air through a tube into the mask so the user can breathe evenly, and sleep. Success rates are about 70% or higher.
Less common treatments include surgery and oral appliances.
If snoring is disrupting your sleep, talk with your physician about having a Sleep Apnea Study, called a Polysomnogram. For more information, call Mercy Neurodiagnostic Sleep Lab at 319-398-6097.
For those diagnosed with sleep apnea, Mercy Home Medical Equipment provides a CPAP and BiPAP Clinic each month, and a free, walk-in clinic for consultations. To set up an appointment, call them at 319-363-1308.
For more information on respiratory care, click here on www.aarc.org.
