What is Sleep Apnoea?
It is a fairly rare condition in
which breathing stops for short periods while the person is asleep. These interruptions in
breathing, which can last 10 seconds or longer, occur when the muscles in the soft palate
and tongue relax during sleep. The same thing
causes snoring, but with sleep apnoea, the airway narrows so much that it closes.
Breathing stops, cutting off the flow of oxygen and reducing the elimination of carbon
dioxide (CO2) from the blood. Fortunately, the brain detects this rise in CO2 and
stimulates the body, re-opening the airways and re-starting breathing. This process can be
repeated several times during the night.
Is it dangerous?
There are deleterious effects. Proper sleep may become impossible, resulting in severe
fatigue and a decreased quality of life. Sleep apnoea in adults can increase the risk of
serious health problems such as heart failure, because it deprives the sufferer of
adequate levels of oxygen, making the heart work harder than normal.
What do you do about it?
If you
think that you or a member of your family may have sleep apnoea you should see your
doctor. Signs strongly suggestive of sleep apnoea are disturbed sleep, excessive daytime
sleepiness, loud snoring and/or long pauses in breathing reported by a bed partner. A doctor will need to refer a patient for further
investigations before treatment can be started.
What kind of investigations are needed?
Usually,
investigations are performed in a sleep laboratory and include:
Visual
observation of sleep, to detect laboured breathing, with long pauses, followed by
arousal from sleep.
Pulse oximetry, to measure the
amount of oxygen in the blood and the pulse rate. The recording is taken for at least 8
hours overnight, and can be carried out at home. Multiple dips in oxygen level and peaks
in pulse rate are found in people with sleep apnoea.
Polysomnography, which involves
many measures of sleep, including eye movements and chin tone to define sleep stages, flow
of air through the nose and mouth, movement of the chest wall, oxygen levels in the blood,
and ECG (electrocardiography) to measure any abnormal heart rhythms.
How do you reduce or avoid sleep
apnoea?
Many
sufferers are overweight, so weight control and healthy eating are important. Aim to eat five servings of fresh, frozen or
canned fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Prepare meals by baking or grilling foods
instead of frying. This will not only reduce fat in the throat tissues, but will also help
improve general health.
Regular
exercise will help with weight management and will improve muscle strength. Begin with a 10-minute period of light exercise like
brisk walking or stretching and gradually build from there. Aim to exercise at least three
to four times a week. Try to do 20–30 minutes a session. Those 30 minutes don’t
have to be continuous: three 10-minute sessions of exercise each day are just as good.
Occasional vigorous activity is unwise and possibly dangerous for anyone ‘out of
shape’.”
Other measures include:
Try to
sleep on the side, instead of the back
Avoid
alcohol before bedtime
Keeping
the body in alignment by raising the head of the bed may help reduce snoring. This can be
done by raising the head of the bed itself or by making sure that the pillow is at the
correct height.
Treatments for sleep
apnoea
 Sometimes the problem can be an allergy reaction that causes
nasal congestion, and an oral or spray decongestant available from the chemist can help. But don’t use these over-the-counter (OTC) products
on a long-term basis. If nasal congestion doesn't clear up in a few days, see your doctor.
Nasal congestion is sometimes caused by a structural problem in the nose such as a
deviated septum, and there are surgical techniques to correct it.
The
doctor may recommend an oxygen mask which is placed over the face while you sleep, to
force air through the airway so that it won't close. This treatment is called continuous
positive airway pressure (CPAP) and may need to be continued for months or years.
For further information contact:
Gayle Siblock/Camilla Saunders
BUPA Corporate Communications
0207 656 2292/2545
siblockg@bupa.com
November 2001 |
| laterlife interest
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