I tell you that it is a common disorder characterized by respiratory pauses, that is, partial (hypopnea) or complete (apnea) obstruction of the upper airways (VAS) lasting more than 10 seconds. Which produces a reduction in arterial oxygen saturation and unconscious awakenings.
It is more common in men 4% to 6%
Women 2% to 4%
Children 1% to 3%
📌 Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
It is the most common form and occurs when the muscles of the pharynx (throat) relax during sleep, obstructing the upper airway.
📌 Central Apnea:
It is what happens when the brain does not send correct signals to the muscles that control breathing
📌 Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (mixed)
It occurs when apnea has both components.
👉🏼Symptoms in both:
- Loud snoring
- Episodes where the patient stops breathing (the companion refers)
- Gasps when breathing during sleep
- Waking up with a dry mouth in the morning
- Headache (headache)
*Insomnia - Hypersomnia (feeling of excessive sleep during the day
- Difficulty paying attention while awake.
*Irritability - Feeling tired all the time
Physiopathology
When the brain detects that it is not breathing, it makes you wake up for a short period to continue breathing, since by obstructing the airway, oxygen concentration, heart rate and arterial pressure decrease, increasing carbon dioxide and when this occurs immediately increases the heart rate and blood pressure, sometimes leading the patient to suffer from arterial hypertension. (It is like a scale that the body uses to try to compensate for periods of apnea (lack of oxygen) to continue to function properly.
This awakening is so brief that the patient usually does not remember it.
Following the line of central sleep apnea, this less frequent type occurs when the brain stops transmitting signals to the respiratory muscles, that is, no respiratory movements are made in a short period of time <10 seconds.
Among the risk factors it should be mentioned that it can affect at any age including the child population in a value of 1% (especially obese and sedentary children) regarding obesity this pathology increases the risk of suffering from apnea and that adipocytes (cells made up of fat) unite around the neck forming adipose tissue, reducing the airway lumen, preventing proper breathing, giving rise to the so-called (thick neck)
Narrow airway, large tonsils, turbinate hypertrophy, prominent cricoid cartilage (the large Adam's apple, often in men), smoking, and alcoholism, anxiolytics function as muscle relaxants. These are some of the most common causes. Older adults are also the most vulnerable to apnea because their muscles lose tone and are more flaccid.
Other typical pathologies of the elderly such as heart disorders such as CHF (congestive heart failure)
CVD (cardiovascular events)
Opioids
They produce central apnea.
The main complications include:
👉 Daytime fatigue
👉🏼Irritability
👉🏼Automotive accidents
👉🏼 Bad mood
👉🏼 Arterial hypertension (due to the sudden drop in oxygen levels in the blood
👉🏼 Ventricular hypertrophy (due to volume overload)
👉🏼Risk of AMI (acute myocardial infarction)
👉🏼Risk of CVD
👉🏼 Risk of atrial fibrillation (tachycardia)
👉🏼Hypoxemia or hypoxia (lack of oxygen)
👉🏼Diabetes Mellitus
👉🏼Metabolic Syndrome
👉🏼 Sleep deprivation of the partner in bed.
Within the treatment highlights:
CPAP (A device that connects to a mask and hose. Generating oxygen at negative pressure, which allows to keep the upper airways permeable. Making the individual breathe normally during the entire period of sleep)
Mandibular device (splint)
Surgical
Polysomnography.
It is important to note that if you present any of these signs or symptoms, you go to the doctor in a timely manner.