Sleep apnea.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is one of the sleep disorders, where a decrease or complete cessation of breathing occurs for a period of 10 to 20 seconds. Which leads to a lack of oxygen and frequent awakening during sleep.

This common yet often undiagnosed condition stealthily fragments sleep, leaving a trail of daytime 

fatigue and long-term health risks.

affects sleep apnea adults and the elderly, especially those who suffer from obesity, and it can also affect young children, as a result of health problems, such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

The rate of sleep apnea is usually higher in males than in females before the age of 50 years, but after this age its incidence is equal in both sexes.

Types of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea types are classified into three categories according to their underlying causes:

1. The first is obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common type, and is characterized by airway obstruction due to relaxation of the muscles in the back of the throat, which impedes regular airflow through the mouth and nose.The diaphragm and chest muscles work harder than usual to open the airway, leading to snoring or body shaking. Sleep apnea causes irregular heartbeat due to lack of oxygen flow to the body's organs.

2. Central sleep apnea It is the least common type and occurs when the brain temporarily stops sending nerve signals to the muscles that control breathing, and is often the result of a medical condition. People with this condition often suffer from sleep apnea without snoring.

3. Mixed sleep apnea syndrome, it is a rare combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Causes of sleep apnea

include Causes of sudden interruption of breathing during sleep :

Category	Causes and Risk Factors
Causes of obstructive sleep apnea	Overweight or obesity; Because excess fat in the neck can put pressure on the airway. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Taking some types of sedative medications, such as hypnotics or tranquilizers. Small or receding lower jaw. Deviated nasal septum. The length of the uvula, which is the fleshy part hanging from the soft palate at the back of the throat; It can fall backward and prevent air from entering the trachea. Smoking and alcohol. Chronic heart disease. Thyroid problems. DNA. Sleeping position: The possibility of sleep apnea increases while sleeping on your back.
Central sleep apnea	Heart disease. brain attack. Neurological diseases. Spinal disease or brainstem injury.
Causes of sleep apnea for pregnant women	Hormonal changes: A high level of hormones can cause the mucous membranes in the nose to swell, and a high level of progesterone may cause the airway to relax. Weight gain during pregnancy. This can increase pressure on your airway and make breathing more difficult at night. The uterus presses on the lung, which reduces air volume and increases breathing rate.

Symptoms of sleep apnea

People with sleep apnea usually do not realize that they suffer from this problem, as the symptoms occur during sleep and the individual often does not remember the moments of waking up at night, but those around him may notice them.

• Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea at night
• Snoring is usually loud.
• Feeling of suffocation and frequent awakening from sleep.
• Feeling constant insomnia and sometimes unable to sleep at all.
• Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea during the day
• Feeling very sleepy and falling asleep during the day while performing activities; Which negatively affects daily life.
• Feeling tired and general weak.
• Headache.
• Dry mouth and throat.
• Weak memory and difficulty concentrating.
• Constant feeling of confusion.
• Mood and personality changes, such as depression and anxiety.
• Erectile dysfunction.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

The doctor may resort to the following measures to diagnose sleep apnea :

1. Medical history and clinical examination: The doctor begins the diagnosis by taking a personal and family medical history, and knowing the symptoms that the patient suffers from.
2. Following this, the physician performs a physical examination to identify indicators that may elevate the risk of sleep apnea, such as enlarged tonsils, among others.
3. Epworth Sleepiness Scale: It is a test that measures the severity of sleepiness by having the patient answer a ready-made form of questions. Then the doctor collects the final points and accordingly determines whether the patient suffers from a sleep disorder.
4. Polysomnography: Polysomnography is performed in the clinic or sleep disorder treatment centers, through a set of physiological tests using a sleep apnea detection device. To monitor the breathing process, measure air flow during sleep, how loud snoring is, body movement, and oxygen level.
5. A typical polysomnography test includes:

• Electroencephalography: It is useful in determining the level of sleep and wakefulness and detecting the presence of any event that causes sleep disturbance.
• Electromyogram: This records the muscle activity of the muscles during sleep.
• Electroencephalogram: It is useful in measuring the duration of the rapid eye movement phase during sleep.

Treatment of sleep apnea

Severity of Condition	Lifestyle Changes	Medical Treatments
Mild Cases	Weight loss Quit Smoking Treatment of allergic rhinitis, if present Sleep on the side instead of the back or stomach	Treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure device Giving oxygen Surgery Medications (e.g., acetazolamide, zolpidem, triazolam)
Moderate to Severe Cases	If the patient does not improve after making lifestyle changes, or in cases of moderate or severe sleep apnea, the doctor may recommend other treatments.

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Tips for living with sleep apnea

It is preferable to follow the following instructions to alleviate symptoms and live with sleep apnea:

- Losing excess weight.

- Sleep on a comfortable, slightly elevated pillow to keep your respiratory passages open.

- Sleeping on one's side is preferred over sleeping on the back.

- Eat healthy, balanced food that contains all the nutrients.

- Drink plenty of fluids, equivalent to 6 cups of water daily.

- Exercise regularly.

- Limit drinking coffee and stimulants.

- Quit Smoking.

- Abstain from drinking alcohol.

Complications of sleep apnea

The danger of sleep apnea , if left untreated, is the occurrence of serious health problems that may sometimes be life-threatening.

Certainly, here are the complications of sleep apnea, listed numerically:

1. Hypertension.

2. Heart disease.

3. Atrial fibrillation.

4. Brain attack.

5. Anxiety and stress.

6. Depression.

7. Diabetes.

8. Pulmonary hypertension.

9. Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

What is the course of sleep apnea?

Finding the right treatment for sleep apnea can make a big difference in a person's health and well-being, even though we don't have a complete cure yet. It's important to tailor the treatment to the individual's needs to get the best results and lower the risks of the condition.