SLEEP APNEA
What is it?
The sleep apnea syndrome is a common disorder of breathing, which affects about 5% of the general population (almost as common as asthma or diabetes). Potentially, it is associated with several health issues and demands medical care.
Rationale
Apnea is caused by cessation of airflow in the airways that lasts more than 10 minutes. Apneas, depending on their etiology, are classified as obstructive, central, or mixed. Obstructive apnea is the most common form caused by the narrowing of the lumen of the extrathoracic airways.
Symptoms
- snoring
- gasping for air during sleep
- morning headaches
- urination during nighttime
- excessive daytime sleepiness, hypersomnia
- sexual malfunction
- cognitive disorders
- depression, psychic disorders etc
Obesity and craniofacial abnormalities (macroglossia, micrognathia, enlarged tonsils etc.) are parameters that set these people at high risk of developing the syndrome. Diseases linked to apnea are hypothyroidism, myopathies, heart failure, stroke, and neurological syndromes.