Are You a Snorer and Feel Tired Even After a Full Night's Sleep? Here's What You Need to Watch Out For

Whomsoever said that a good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in a doctor's book wasn't lying. While regular exercise and a balanced, fully-loaded with Vitamins and minerals diet form the foundation for optimal health, the quality of one's sleep goes far in establishing overall well-being. Sleeping disorders, of which sleep apnea happens to be one of the most common, are directly tied to diminished quality of life and an increased cardiovascular and metabolic health risk.

Dr Prashant Chhajed, Director, Pulmonology and Sleep Centre, and Dr Anshu Punjabi, Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Expert, from Fortis Hospitals, elucidate what sleep apnea is—including its prime symptoms and treatments—why it mustn't be ignored, and why an early diagnosis of the condition is paramount. 

 

What is Sleep Apnea? 

 

Sleep Apnea is a sleeping disorder that may lead to serious health concerns such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. If not intervened, it can cause breathing to stop repeatedly during sleep, resulting in loud snoring and daytime tiredness even after a whole night's sleep. While sleep apnea can affect anyone, the condition is most prominent in older men who are overweight; it occurs in about 3% of average-weight individuals and over 20% of obese individuals. Research also indicates that sleep apnea affects more men than women, although the probability drastically increases in women after the onset of menopause.

 

What are the Major Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

 

There are primarily two kinds of Sleep Apnea: 

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when air can't flow in or out of the nose or mouth while you're trying to breathe.

2. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain fails to send the right signals to your muscles to make you start breathing.

 

While snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, it is not a norm for this sleeping disorder. Snoring is the vibration sound created by airway resistance, if at all. While you may snore loudly and not have sleep apnea, you may have sleep apnea without much snoring. Further, people suffering from this condition may also complain about unexplained fatigue and mood swings because their breathing interruptions continually wake them up, preventing them from settling into deep, nourishing REM sleep.

The initial signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are often recognised not by the patient but by their partner. While many of those affected have no sleep complaints, the most common signs and symptoms exhibited include snoring, daytime sleepiness or fatigue, restlessness during sleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking, dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening, cognitive impairment such as trouble concentrating, forgetfulness or irritability, mood disturbances including anxiety and depression, frequent nighttime urination, sexual dysfunction, and frequent headaches. 

Those with Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) often report recurrent awakenings or insomnia and may also experience a choking or gasping sensation upon awakening. Some common symptoms in children include poor performance at school, sluggishness during the day, breathing from the mouth, difficulty swallowing, unusual sleeping positions, bed-wetting, excessive sweating at night and learning and behavioural disorders. Central sleep apnea is less common. 

 

What is the Treatment for Sleep Apnea? 

 

In mild cases of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), conservative therapy may be the solution. If the person is obese, shedding weight is an effective solution as well, as weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events. However, losing weight can be challenging with untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea due to increased appetite and the metabolism changes it causes. Further, individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea should limit their alcohol intake and sleeping pills, as it can affect their airways and lead to collapse and/or prolonged apneic periods. Patients with sinus problems or nasal congestion should use nasal sprays or breathing strips to reduce snoring; this will ultimately improve airflow for more comfortable nighttime breathing. It is essential that everyone, even those who have sleep apnea, get optimal sleep, as deprivation can have a detrimental effect on their condition. 

Another treatment method for OSA is Positive Airway Pressure therapy. With PAP therapy, patients wear a mask while an air blower gently forces the air through their nose and mouth. The air pressure is adjusted so that it is just enough to prevent the upper airway tissue from collapsing during sleep. There are several styles and types of Positive Airway Pressure devices depending on the specific needs of the patient.

Lastly, surgical procedures may help people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, as well as others who snore but don't have sleep apnea. Surgery is recommended for those with excessive or malformed tissue obstructing the airflow through the nose or throat, such as a deviated nasal septum, markedly enlarged tonsils, or a small lower jaw with an overbite that causes the throat to be abnormally narrow. These procedures are typically performed after their condition has failed to respond to conservative measures and CPAP trials. 

 

Why is Early Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea Vital? 

 

The likelihood of Sleep Apnea causing arrhythmias and heart failure is ever-present as patients suffering from the disorder tend to have higher blood pressure. If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can give way to umpteen health problems, including hypertension, stroke, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the heart's muscle tissue), heart failure, diabetes, obesity, and heart attacks. Patients must visit a sleep laboratory to spend the night for monitoring and diagnosis.