SLEEP APNEA

Sleep Apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition.

Sleep Apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.

There are two types of sleep apnea : central and obstructive.

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the breathing muscles to initiate respirations.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person's nose or mouth although efforts to breathe continue.

In a given night, the number of involuntary breathing pauses or "apneic events" may be as high as 20 to 60 or more per hour.

These breathing pauses are almost always accompanied by snoring between apnea episodes, although not everyone who snores has this condition.

Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes but is more common in men. Sleep apnea seems to run in some families, suggesting a possible genetic basis.

HOW IS SLEEP APNEA TREATED :

The specific therapy for sleep apnea is tailored to the individual patient based on medical history, physical examination, and the results of polysomnography.

Behavioral changes are an important part of the treatment program, and in mild cases behavioral therapy may be all that is needed.

The individual should avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills.

Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most patients.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common effective treatment for sleep apnea.

Several surgical procedures are used to increase the size of the airway. Some of the more common procedures include removal of adenoids and tonsils (especially in children), nasal polyps or other growths, or other tissue in the airway and correction of structural deformities.

Somnoplasty is a procedure that uses radiowaves to reduce the size of some airway structures such as the uvula and the back of the tongue.

Tracheostomy is used in persons with severe, life-threatening sleep apnea. In this procedure, a small hole is made in the windpipe and a tube is inserted into the opening. This tube stays closed during waking hours, and the person breathes and speaks normally. It is opened for sleep so that air flows directly into the lungs, bypassing any upper airway obstruction.