Perhaps the worst part about sleep apnea is that it creeps in without the victim ever realizing what he or she is getting into. This stealthy intrusion makes the sleep disorder difficult to diagnose and the result is delayed detection and the patient remaining untreated for a long time.
It starts with loud snoring, which when neglected, worsens into one of the worst types of sleep disorders marked by frequent breathlessness during sleep. It happens when the airway narrows resulting in serious obstruction to airflow.
Why most victims miss the symptoms
This happens because majority of the characteristic features of this illness show up during sleep. Usually it is the bed or room partner who notices the restlessness during sleep, breathing pauses, repeated chokes and gasps during sleep, loud and persistent snoring, etc and calls for medical help.
However the patient ultimately notices some disturbing features of the illness that take him or her to seek medical opinion. These include rapid and unexplained weight gain; mood deterioration like depression, irritability, etc; daytime tiredness and sleepiness; frequent need for urination at night and so on.
How is diagnosis done?
No matter how elaborately and accurately the experiences are reported, the doctor still insists on a test before the condition is medically confirmed. Known by several names like overnight sleep study, polysomnogram examination, etc, this is one of the most objective and reliable sources of information about the current state of health of the patient.
Several physical and physiological parameters are tested during the overnight diagnostic procedure, which gives the final clue to the doctor regarding the choice of therapy for treating the condition. Additionally the doctor also gets to know the site of obstruction in the respiratory tract as well as identify the specific sleep disorder the patient is suffering from.
Sleep apnea treatment: know your options
For the management of mild to moderate conditions:
- Weight loss including sleep apnea exercises for losing fat of the breathing muscles
- Abstinence from alcohol
- Altering sleeping position
- Raising pillow height
- CPAP or Continuous Positive Air Pressure therapy
- Apnea dental devices like mouth guards, etc.
Managing severe conditions:
Surgery is often the last and final option for treating severe conditions. Several options are available in this regard but some common surgeries include Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), Somnoplasty, Tonsillectomy, Laser-Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP), Pillar Palatal Implant, Tracheostomy, Genioglossus (tongue advancement), Maxillary or maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), Laser midline glossectomy and lingualplasty (removal of part of the tongue), Hyoid myotomy with suspension, etc.
Diagnosis can be confusing
There could be diagnostic confusion caused by the presence of some common signs. For example, excessive daytime sleepiness could indicate not just this disorder but also hypersomnia. In fact, it is one of the main narcolepsy symptoms too.
To avoid any diagnostic confusion, you need to remember the following:
- Study the age of the patient when the illness has set in. For apnea it is usually around 50 years but with other disorders it could be much earlier.
- The disorder is an outcome of dysfunctional brain but narcolepsy is usually caused by dysfunctional central nervous system.
- Altering sleeping position, using devices and oral appliances or even surgery are the preferred treatment options for this disorder. Other sleep disorders are treated differently.
Sleep apnea is undoubtedly one of the most distressful sleep disorders. But if you remain alert and catch the elusive signs early, you can be expected to be treated early also.
If you want to know more about sleep apnea symptoms, then feel free to visit Douglas Kidder’s site and learn everything you need to know about sleep apnea treatment.
Source: www.thehealthdirectoryonline.com
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