Sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea describes a sleep disorder which affects a person's breathing during sleep. Breathing is interrupted during sleep and this can occur tens or hundreds of times a night. 90% of people who suffer from the disorder do not even know they have it, and cannot remember struggling to breathe. Though many people do not notice the problem, if left untreated, due to its very nature, sleep apnoea can be very dangerous. There are two types of sleep apnoea: obstructive sleep apnoea and central sleep apnoea. Obstructive sleep apnoea is the more common of the two and is caused by a breathing obstruction which stops air from flowing into the nose and mouth. In Central sleep apnoea, the brain’s respiratory control does not work as it should during sleep. The part of the brain that monitors the level of carbon dioxide in the blood does not react as normal so the correct level of respiration is not maintained and the body will make no effort to breathe for a short period of time. Central sleep must be treated clinically. In both cases it is normally the sufferer’s partner who becomes aware of breathing problems, rather than the sufferer himself.

The muscles in the body normally relax when we sleep and this includes muscles in the throat, though these normally stay open enough to allow air to enter and exit the lungs. Sleep apnoea occurs when the tissue in the throat obstructs breathing. Sleep apnoea is characterized by choking or gasping during sleep, loud snoring (although not everyone who snores suffers from sleep apnoea), sudden awakenings and sleepiness during the day due to lack of sleep. Serious complications can arise due to deprivation of oxygen, so treatment must be sought to prevent the condition from becoming life-threatening.

The primary causes and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnoea include being overweight or obese, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, nasal congestion or blockage (due to illness or poor respiration due to smoking), over relaxation of the throat muscles (due to medications, alcohol or even age) and other physical abnormalities to the breathing apparatus and involved areas. Studies suggest that obstructive sleep apnoea runs in families.

Which treatments are used for curing obstructive sleep apnoea depend on the causes of the condition. Many programs include lifestyle changes such as perte de poids et prendre comprimés minceur de chez Roche sur ordonnance , reducing consumption of alcohol, and smoking cessation. Your doctor may suggest a recliner bed or different sleeping positions or even apparatuses or machines to aid breathing.

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