What is Sleep Apnoea?
Apnoea, which means "stopping breathing" in Latin, is when a person stops breathing or becomes very shallow during sleep. This condition can cause oxygen deficiency, causing the person to wake up and disrupt sleep patterns. Sleep apnoea can be caused by obstruction in the airways or problems in the breathing control centre in the brain.
Types of Sleep Apnoea
The main types of sleep apnoea are obstructive, central and complex apnoea. Obstructive sleep apnoea is caused by obstruction in the airways and is the most common type. Central sleep apnoea is caused by signalling disorders in the brain. Complex apnoea occurs when obstructive apnoea turns into central apnoea during treatment.
Symptoms and Diagnostic Methods
Loud snoring, shortness of breath, frequent awakening at night, excessive desire to sleep during the day and mood changes are the main symptoms of sleep apnoea. A polysomnography test (sleep test) can be performed to make a diagnosis. A home sleep test is another option, but it may be insufficient to diagnose central apnoea because it cannot measure brain waves.
Sleep Apnoea Treatment Methods
Treatment depends on the type of apnoea. Treatment methods include devices that provide positive airway pressure such as CPAP, oral devices, conservative treatments such as weight loss and position changes, and surgical operations. With these methods, the effects of sleep apnoea can be reduced or controlled.
- Tags:
- Sleep Apnoea
- Sleep Illness
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