Sleep Apnoea or Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, is part of a range of sleep-disorder that affects breathing. Sleep apnoea occurs when air flow through the upper airway reduces during sleep. This leads to a reduction in oxygen entering the bloodstream and patients start to suffocate. The brain goes into ‘panic mode and sends strong emergency signals to the heart, lungs, and muscles to wake the person up gasping for air. This can happen multiple times every night and is recorded as the patient’s Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI). An AHI of less than 5 is considered normal. The causes of airflow disturbances range from physical obstructions or neural causes and must be investigated for effective treatment.
Strong vibrations of the soft tissues along the airway caused by turbulent airflow during sleep apnoea make very loud snoring noises and vibrations. This often causes disturbed sleep for bed partners.
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The effects of sleep apnea can adversely affect a patient’s quality of life. Imagine not having enough sleep every night for months and even years. The sleep deficit that builds up handicaps our performance at work and at school, reduces our productivity, affects our mood and social behavior and can even cause us to doze off when driving! A 2015 study published in the journal Sleep, found that people with sleep apnoea were 2.5 times more likely to be the driver in a motor accident than people without the sleep disorder.
Sleep Apnoea is physically and mentally tiring and hints at possible underlying medical risks. The American Heart Association recognizes that sleep apnoea is associated with high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and heart failure. These are serious and dangerous medical conditions that should not be ignored.
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