Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Treatment in Begur

Sleep apnea is a sleep condition in which your breathing is regularly disrupted while you are sleeping. These breathing pauses normally last 10 to 20 seconds and might occur 5 to 100 times each hour.

There are two types of sleep apnea, 

• Obstructive sleep apnea is characterised by repeated episodes of full or partial upper airway obstruction during sleep. During an apneic episode, the diaphragm and chest muscles function harder to extend the airway as the pressure increases. 

• The airway is not closed with central sleep apnea, but the brain fails to instruct the muscles to breathe leading to respiratory control center dysfunction. Central apnea is connected to the operation of the central nervous system.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

• Snoring frequently and loudly

• Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleeping, daytime drowsiness and weariness

• Having a dry mouth or painful throat when you wake up

• Morning headache

• Sleep disturbances, midnight awakenings, or insomnia

• Having difficulty breathing at night

Diagnosis

The doctor at best hospital for sleep apnea disorders in Begur may perform an assessment based on the indications, symptoms, and sleep pattern.

Some tests to detect sleep apnea are,

• Nocturnal Polysomnography

In this test, the patient is paired up with equipment that detects heart, lung, and brain activity, arm, and leg movements, breathing patterns, and blood oxygen levels while the patient sleeps.

• Home Sleep Tests 

The doctor gives the patient simplified tests to be done at home to diagnose sleep apnea. These tests usually assess the heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow and breathing patterns.

Treatment

Sleep apnea treatment strives to normalise breathing patterns during sleep and handle any underlying health issues. The options depend on the cause and severity of the symptoms.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy (CPAP)

This is the most prevalent form of sleep treatment machine. CPAP controls the patients' breathing so that they may breathe comfortably while sleeping. This equipment gently pushes a steady stream of compressed air down the airway, increasing the air pressure in the throat and preventing the airway from collapsing, hence minimising pauses in breathing while sleeping.

Surgery

Various surgical procedures can widen the airway such as,

• Tissue Removal

The doctor removes tissue from the back of the mouth and the top of the throat during uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Tonsils and adenoids are generally excised as well.

• Tissue Shrinkage 

The doctor uses radiofrequency ablation to shrink the tissue at the back of the mouth and throat. This technique is utilised for mild to moderate sleep apnea.

• Jaw Repositioning

The jaw is shifted forward from the rest of your facial bones during this treatment. This increases the gap behind the tongue and soft palate, reducing the chances of blockage. This is referred to as maxillomandibular advancement.

Medication

Sleep specialists prescribe medications such as,

• Acetazolamide

• Zolpidem

• Triazolam

Sleep apnea can cause heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias, so the patient should seek advice as soon as possible. Book an appointment at Manipal Begur Clinic.