This condition is common in people who snore regularly. It is caused by the periodic collapse of the airways at the level of the pharynx. Sleep apnea syndrome is manifested by interruptions in breathing during sleep, when loved ones of the sleeping person observe periods of frightening silence against the background of snoring. These periods last for 20-30 seconds, followed by loud snoring. Very often, patients with such a breathing disorder in a dream complain of restless and unrefreshing sleep, fatigue and headaches in the morning, excruciating daytime sleepiness, loss of memory and attention. As a rule, these are overweight people with hypertension with a predominant increase in blood pressure at night and in the morning. In men , sleep apnea syndrome can lead to a decrease in potency.
Sometimes, a person with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can have up to 400-500 respiratory stops per night for a total of 3-4 hours. This leads to a constant lack of oxygen during the night and significantly increases the risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, stroke, and sudden death during sleep. In patients with severe sleep apnea syndrome, cardiovascular mortality increases 5 times. Excessive sleepiness while driving is extremely dangerous. The risk of getting into an accident with sleep apnea is 4-7 times higher than that of healthy people.
Sleep apnea syndrome can be diagnosed by polysomnography , in which breathing and a number of other physiological functions of the body are recorded during sleep. An important part of this study is the recording of sleep patterns, which makes it possible to judge the quality of sleep. This is done by measuring brain activity based on an electroencephalogram, an electrooculogram, an electromyogram. For screening diagnostics , a computerized pulse oximeter can also be used , which monitors blood oxygen saturation during a night’s sleep. The pulse oximeter performs more than 20,000 measurements per night, which allows you to accurately diagnose sleep apnea syndrome and chronic respiratory failure during sleep.
In moderate to severe forms of the disease, sleep apnea syndrome is successfully treated with CPAP therapy , this is a method of assisted ventilation of the lungs with constant positive pressure during nighttime sleep. On the first night of treatment, the patient eliminates snoring and respiratory arrest, blood oxygen saturation normalizes, and the quality of sleep improves. To achieve maximum effect, treatment should be carried out regularly at home.
The use of the best modern CPAP devices Prisma Line from the new line of Weinmann – Lowenstein (Germany) allows the most effective and comfortable treatment of the entire spectrum of respiratory disorders in patients suffering from sleep apnea.