What is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome?
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a sleep-disordered breathing characterized by brief but frequent blockage of the airways, which causes total (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) interruptions of breathing during sleep. That is, there is an excessive relaxation of the muscles of the upper airway, resulting in the blockage of normal breathing.
What are the causes of this syndrome?
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is often associated with the following causes:
- overweight
- genetic (physical characteristics such as the configuration of the face and neck or tendency to be overweight that favor the blockage of the airway during sleep)
- age (the prevalence of this syndrome increases with normal aging)
- excessive enlargement of the neck circumference
- some hereditary and congenital diseases (which can cause anatomical changes in the upper airways that lead to a respiratory blockage during sleep, such as Down syndrome)
- chronic consumption of tobacco, alcohol and some medications, particularly with a muscle relaxant effect
- In children, enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids
What are the symptoms of this syndrome?
The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can be nocturnal or diurnal and most often are:
- snore
- sudden awakenings with gagging or a feeling of suffocation
- Recurrent awakenings
- need to urinate during the night
- restless sleep
- morning headaches
- feeling of non-restorative sleep
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- irritability
- lack of attention, memory, or difficulty concentrating
What are the main complications of this syndrome?
One of the main complications of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is the increased risk of occupational and road accidents as a result of excessive daytime sleepiness.
In addition, this syndrome is associated with the appearance or development of cardiovascular problems such as:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus
- cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- Arrhythmias
- heart failure
What are the main risk groups that can develop this syndrome?
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can occur at any age, and is more common in:
- Adults with obesity
- children with hypertrophy of the tonsils and adenoids
How is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome diagnosed?
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is usually diagnosed through:
- Clinical evaluation in consultation
- performing a polysomnography, a test that analyzes sleep, namely brain, muscle, cardiac electrical activity, breathing including blood oxygenation, body position and snoring
Is it possible to prevent this syndrome?
To prevent obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and get quality sleep, it is recommended that lifestyle changes be made with the following habits:
- Maintain a diet healthy and balanced
- Engage in regular exercise
- avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages
- avoid the consumption of stimulant drinks
- No smoking
- adopt sleep hygiene measures such as:
- Set regular times to wake up and fall asleep
- Get enough sleep adequate for your own needs
- Sleeping in the side position
- Do not use sleeping pills, particularly with a muscle relaxant effect
What is the treatment for sleep apnea syndrome?
The main forms of treatment for this syndrome include:
- Adoption of good sleep hygiene
- Set regular times to wake up and fall asleep
- Get enough sleep adequate for your own needs
- Sleep in a correct position: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome often appears or worsens when lying on your back and in these situations it is recommended to sleep in the lateral position
- Do not use sleeping pills with a muscle relaxant effect
- weight loss, in case of obesity or overweight
- Ventilotherapy during sleep: described as "ventilation" through a nasal or face mask that is worn while sleeping
- surgery in case of indication for removal of tissues (such as, for example, in children, removal of the tonsils) responsible for obstructing the passage of air
- Mandibular advancement device that works by advancing the lower jaw and therefore increasing the airway space
Source: Portuguese Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health (SPPSM)