Sleep Apnoea

Introduction

Sleep apnoea is a serious sleep affliction that has helped build a multi-billion dollar sleep-medical industry. Five out of 10 Australians are just not getting enough sleep. A government report commissioned in 2019 has estimated the financial expense of this ‘national weariness issue’ at $26.3 billion a year.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has reported that fatigue, snoring, and sleepiness are common symptoms that patients present to GPs. 6% of Australian patients who visited a doctor reported a specific problem with their sleeping or snoring.

These facts are not spurious; formal studies have been methodically planned, administered, and analysed, and the findings have been widely reported to key stakeholders. The crucial message developed is that we are not getting enough sleep, with various connected root causes. One of the critical reasons is that this ailment has more severe implications for our overall health and well-being than merely feeling tired and fatigued.

What is Sleep Apnoea?

Considered a high-range sleeping disorder, sleep apnoea is a malady in which breathing is either partially or fully obstructed during the sleeping phases. The automatic breathing process that occurs while we sleep is affected due to the constriction of one’s throat while suffering from occurrences.

Sleep studies have revealed that sufferers’ breathing can stop for anywhere from a few seconds to 90 seconds, with brief sporadic waking interruptions in between.

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

Sleep apnoea ratings can range from mild to moderate to severe, affecting anyone, regardless of their age. Older people who are overweight, snore, or have a history within their family are more predisposed to experience this illness.

Sometimes, people are born with a narrow throat composition and narrow nasal passages, and young children with existing tonsil or adenoid medical conditions are also likely to experience sleep apnoea.

How does Sleep Apnoea Develop?

While sleep apnoea can affect people of all ages, it generally occurs over time. Poor eating habits, coupled with an active social lifestyle, may cause excessive weight gain in people. Add to this that sufferers tend to be undiagnosed for an extended time frame; this sleeping affliction is known to develop gradually over time.

How does Sleep Apnoea Affect You?

Quite simply, it is lousy for your health. The most glaring effect is feeling tired and weary, and medical evidence has revealed that moderate to severe sleep disruption has other health implications.

The crucial long-term effects are:

• More likely to develop high blood pressure
• More likely to develop a cardiovascular disease
• Increased risk of experiencing a stroke
• Increased risk of developing diabetes
• Increased risk of experiencing headaches
• Increased risk of experiencing depression and anxiety
• Disinterest in sex and affection
• Possible temporary impotence in men

Tiredness and weariness are known factors that have led to workplace incidents and motor vehicle accidents.

What are Some Sleep Apnoea Symptoms?

The characteristic symptoms that one might be suffering from this are:

• Waking up in the morning and you are not refreshed
• Feeling tired continuously throughout the day
• Tossing and turning a lot during sleep
• Suddenly waking and gasping for air, feeling like you were choking
• Pauses while breathing in your sleep – noticed by a partner or spouse

How is Sleep Apnoea Diagnosed?

After reporting and discussing your sleep symptoms with your GP, your doctor might decide that you require a specific sleep test to confirm the root cause of the issue.

The test uses a polysomnogram (PSG), or a sleep study, in which surface electrodes are gently connected to specific locations on your scalp, face, and neck. These electrodes feed into a digital recording device that captures and records all the electrical signals generated from your brain during sleep. Breathing bands are placed around your waist to measure your breathing patterns.

After the sleep study/ data recording process is completed, a sleep study specialist will review and analyse the data, and a report will be provided to your GP – with the following information:

• If there was any snoring recorded, and for how long
• How often do you wake up
• The length of time spent in each sleep stage
• Whether you stopped breathing or had trouble breathing during the study
• Any limb movements or unusual brain activity patterns

The report will also indicate whether sleep apnoea is present and its severity. Your GP might order another sleep study or recommend reviewing the best treatment options for you.

What Types of Sleep Apnoea Treatments are There?

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

This treatment requires sufferers to wear a specific mask over their nose and mouth during sleep. A steady supply of air is administered to the mask, which is connected to an airflow device. The airflow assists you by keeping your nose and throat airway passages open so that you can breathe naturally during sleep. CPAP is the most common treatment alternative for sufferers.

Lifestyle Changes and Management

To be certain, prevention is a far better option than cure in the medical world, and reducing excess body weight can significantly reduce your risk of developing it.

Aim to get close to your ideal body weight for your height and shape, and your breathing during sleep will vastly improve. Also, abstain from smoking and drinking too much alcohol, as these social activities will diminish good sleep. Even changing your sleeping position can lead to reduced risks, as most sufferers tend to sleep while on their backs.

Other Treatments

Sufferers who have taken up yoga or commenced an exercise program have reported a reduction in symptoms. Building a healthier heart through exercise improves respiratory depth and encourages oxygen flow. The various breathing exercises that yoga practices include will also increase oxygen levels.

Conclusion

A Deloitte study estimated that inadequate sleep cost the Australian economy approximately $66.4 billion in 2016 – 17. This figure incorporated a “loss of well-being” worth $40.3 billion. Sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder that has far-reaching adverse consequences on us all, both individually and collectively.

If you think you’re suffering from a sleep disorder, visit your GP or a Respiratory Sleep Medicine Physician for help.

Featured post photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash