what can I do with my sleep apnea?

I'm watching TV right now. The majority of the programs are about politics, sports and other “interesting” shows. Who cares about “interesting” shows anymore? A snippet of a woman wanting to divorce her newlywed husband catches my attention.

The reason for the divorce? He snores too loudly! She tearfully confesses her love for her husband, but she can no longer live with him (is she kidding?!). By the way, both are enthusiastic fans of basketball and American football.

Your favorite stars? JaMarcus Russel, the sensational quarterback and the powerful Shaquille O'Neal. This leads me to do a quick Google search on how many Americans snore. The result: an incredible 45%. The couple's favorite stars are also affected!

Now that I have your attention, let’s talk about sleep apnea.

What ails this husband (if he still has one) is medically called sleep apnea. This is a disease in which sleepers experience pauses in breathing that can last from seconds to minutes. These longer pauses in breathing are called breathing pauses. Unusually shallow breathing while sleeping can also be considered sleep apnea, with these periods of unusually shallow breathing being referred to as hypopnea.

The brain usually detects the abnormally high concentration of carbon dioxide and/or the abnormally low concentration of oxygen and/or the abnormally low pH in the blood. This triggers an impulse that wakes the person from sleep.

Then she falls asleep again, either immediately or a short while later, after which the cycle repeats itself. As a result, the person is tired the next day and has difficulty concentrating or staying awake.

What is the connection to snoring here?

The typical snoring sound occurs when air is forced through the partially open airways. It is usually associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Other forms include central sleep apnea (CSA) and mixed/complex sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of this disease. It is caused by physical impairment of the respiratory tract. This form is particularly common in people who are overweight, have enlarged tonsils, and large necks and tongues. Central sleep apnea is the result of a lack of respiratory effort. It is the least common form. Mixed/complex sleep apnea is a mixture of CSA and OSA.

Diagnosis: sleep apnea

A diagnosis of sleep apnea can be made based on a careful medical history. Patients suspected of having sleep apnea usually complain of daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability and impaired coordination skills and memory. Your doctor may recommend that you have a polysomnography. This exam will observe sleep habits and even measure the frequency and intensity of pauses in breathing to determine the severity of sleep apnea.

Am I at risk of sleep apnea?

The risk of sleep apnea is greater for some people than others. The usual victim of this disease is male, of advanced age, overweight and with a large neck. Other factors associated with increased risk include: enlarged tonsils, large tongues (may particularly occur in people with Down syndrome), micrognathia (small jawbone), alcohol and tobacco use, use of sedatives, reflux esophagitis and cases of sleep ap -noe in the family, although other factors also come into question.

Treatment options

There are several approaches to treating those affected. In mild cases of sleep apnea, even a small change in your nightly sleep patterns can make a difference. The doctor may recommend a side sleeping position (pre-existing sleep apnea could be made worse by sleeping on your back). Avoiding alcohol, sleeping pills and other sedatives is recommended for all patients. These are known to reduce the tension in the throat muscles and thus lead to an impairment of the air flow in the respiratory tract.

If these lifestyle changes don't help, it may be time to try CPAP therapy. The abbreviation CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. The patient is connected to a CPAP machine that is specifically adjusted to his or her sleep apnea. This device is used to stabilize and keep the patient's airways open during sleep using slight positive pressure.

If CPAP proves ineffective, surgery may be considered. The type of intervention depends on the location of the airway impairment. At the level of the nose, septoplasty and/or surgery on the nasal concha are possible. If the problem is at the level of the throat, removing the tonsils or changing the uvula could solve the problem. Other surgical procedures are also available.

One last word

I really hope the wife reads this article before signing the divorce papers. Maybe the only thing separating them from their happy marriage is a CPAP machine?