Habitual snoring is common in the general population, occurring in 44 percent of males and 28 percent of females who are between 30 and 60 years of age. Occasional snoring is almost universal.
However, snoring can be a serious health concern, disrupting family life, and adversely affecting one’s feeling of well-being. It may also indicate the need for medical treatment.
Sleep apnoea is a condition in which a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep, through obstruction of the airway or as a result of damage to the breathing centre in the brain.
Symptoms of sleep apnoea:
Some people with sleep apnoea do not have symptoms, or are unaware they have them. They might think that it is normal to be tired or to snore a lot.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is the more common type of sleep apnoea. When OSA occurs, the airway is blocked, preventing normal airflow to the lungs. The oxygen level in the blood thus falls, and the brain, as well as other body parts, becomes oxygen deprived.
Males and overweight people, as well as those born with a small lower face, a small mouth, and a tongue that seems too large for the mouth are more prone to suffer from this disorder. Tonsil enlargement can also be an important cause, especially in children. Current smokers (but not past smokers) are nearly three times more likely to have OSA than non smokers.
In central sleep apnea, breathing is abnormal because of a change in the breathing control and rhythm. Generally, this is due to damage to the breathing centre in the brain as a result of trauma, stroke or other diseases, and the brain fails to send the right signals to the muscles to make a person breathe. Some reports indicated that CSA is also associated with severe heart failure.
People who suffer from obstructive and central types of sleep apnoea at the same time are sometimes referred to as having mixed sleep apnoea.
Sleep apnoea can become detrimental to health due to the complete obstruction to breathing. If left untreated, sufferers will become more vulnerable to the following ailments:
0= Would never doze off 1= Slight chance of dozing off
2= Moderate chance of dozing off 3= High chance of dozing of
| 1. Sitting and reading | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2. Watching TV | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
3. Sitting inactive in a public place ( e.g. a theatre or a meeting) |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4. As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 5. Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 6. Sitting and talking to someone | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 7. Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 8. In a car while stopped for a few minutes in traffic | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
If the score is greater than 10, further investigations may be indicated
The diagnosis of sleep apnoea is best made by a knowledgeable sleep medicine specialist who has an understanding of the individual's health issues. The study is usually performed in a sleep laboratory or a special purpose room, such as the one at MIH. A full sleep study is called a polysomnogram (PSG). The polysomnogram measures the breathing effort and airflow, blood oxygen level, heart rate and rhythm, duration of the various stages of sleep, body position, and movement of the arms and legs.
To prepare for the day of the PSG sleep study, patients should avoid any food and medicine that cause either sedation, such as sleep medicines, antihistamines or cough medicines or heighten alertness, such as caffeine-containing drinks. It is very important that patients let medical staff know what medications they are on.
The preliminary result will be ready on the next working day and it will be sent to the attending doctor for follow up.
One of the most effective treatments for sleep apnoea uses a mechanical device to keep the upper airway open during sleep. A continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP) uses an air-tight attachment to the nose, typically a mask, connected to a tube and a blower which generates the pressure. . If CPAP treatment is advised following the sleep study a fitting will be scheduled. The CPAP should then be used during sleep, day or night.
Surgery is another option for people with mild to moderate sleep apnoea. One such surgical procedure reshapes structures in, and opens up, the upper airways.
A change in personal lifestyle will also improve general well-being through maintaining a healthy weight, smoking cessation and regular exercise. Alcohol and sedatives should be avoided before sleep, and sleeping on the side rather than on the back has been shown to reduce snoring.
Matilda International Hospital and the Matilda Medical Centre will work with ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialists, to provide an integrated solution, from assessment, diagnosis, to the appropriate treatment, of the below sleep-related breathing disorders:
The information provided in this article is for reference only and does not replace professional medical advice. Matilda International Hospital and Matilda Medical Centre shall not be held responsible for any decisions made based on this information.