Obstructive Sleep Apnea

It is a medical condition characterized by a temporary cessation of breathing or a type of interrupted breathing during sleep, lasting from several seconds to several minutes.

This phenomenon occurs at least five times per hour.

Sleep apnea is considered an abnormal physiological condition.

When breathing stops or pauses, carbon dioxide levels in the blood increase.

Chemical receptors in the bloodstream detect this elevation and send signals to the brain to awaken the person and resume proper breathing.

Once breathing returns to normal, oxygen levels in the body restore to their usual state, and the person goes back to sleep.

The repetition of this cycle causes sleep disturbances and leads to daytime sleepiness.

Sleep apnea is often diagnosed through overnight sleep monitoring.

In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), breathing is obstructed due to physical blockage in the airway, which overcomes the respiratory effort.

Snoring is a common feature of this condition.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

- Fatigue, tiredness, and daytime sleepiness.

- Persistent snoring.

- Slowed activity and decreased productivity.

- Vision problems.

- Increased risk of accidents while driving or at work.

- Aggressive mood swings.

- Lack of attention and concentration.

- Insomnia.

- Depression.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of other health problems such as diabetes and may even result in death due to oxygen deprivation in the body.

Risk factors for sleep apnea include being male, overweight or obese, over 40 years of age, having a large neck circumference, enlarged tonsils, tongue enlargement, small jawbone, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinus problems, deviated nasal septum, a family history of sleep apnea, alcohol consumption, sedative or painkiller use, and smoking.

The diagnosis of sleep apnea relies on the combination of clinical symptoms (such as excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue) and sleep monitoring results.

To confirm the diagnosis, there should be at least 15 occurrences of breathing cessation per hour during sleep.

Treatment options usually begin with behavioral interventions, such as avoiding alcohol, sedatives, and other medications that can relax throat muscles and contribute to airway narrowing during sleep. Since sleep apnea worsens in the supine position, sleeping on one's side is often recommended.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, which provide continuous positive air pressure, are also commonly used.

These devices keep the airway open during sleep by delivering pressurized air into the airway.