सोमवार, 10 मार्च 2014

What is Sleep apnea?

Globally sleep related problems have been ignored for many years ,India specially lacks 

a systematic approach to the management and diagnosis of sleep disorders .Research suggests that at present ,over 150 million people in India suffer from sleep -related breathing disorders .

The biggest problem today is that patients are not even aware of the dangers of having a sleep disorder .Snoring is seen as being a common phenomenon and not as a symptom much more dangerous.

The Silent Killer 

An increasingly common disorder in adults and children alike is sleep apnoea .It is a disorder wherein breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep .If untreated ,it can lead to disturbing health problems and bring you dangerously close to death .You may have sleep apnoea if you snore loudly , are lethargic even after a full night's sleep and have difficulty concentrating .

Other symptoms include excessive day time sleepiness ,loud snoring ,observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep and abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath .

What can be done ?

Sleep apnoea is treatable ,but usually goes unrecognised .

An overnight sleep study with an apnoeagraph ,an innovative sleep analysis tool ,can be performed to diagnose the problem .The apnoeagraph detects the type of apnoea and indicates to surgeons the site of obstruction,and therefore the most appropriate surgical procedure or therapy .

Nova Specialty Hospitals , in association with Eurosleep ,the world leader in the treatment of sleep apnoea ,is now the largest diagonostic screening and treatment facility for the comprehensive management of sleep related disorders in India .

Until now sleep medicine has been fragmented and disorganised ,and the medical and surgical aspects have yet to be integrated .Nova's aim is to serve this unmet need in the Indian population .

"Nova has specialized apnoeagraphs that tell you exactly which part of the respiratory system is causing snoring and obstructions in your case .
                        ______________Dr.Asim Desai , 
                  (Senior Consultant ENT Surgeon ,                                          Nova Specialty Hospitals )  

 

What is  Sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which your breathing temporarily stops during sleep due to the blockage of the upper airways. These pauses in breathing interrupt your sleep, leading to many awakenings each hour. While most people with sleep apnea don’t remember these awakenings, they might feel exhausted during the day, irritable and depressed, or see a decrease in productivity.
Sleep apnea is a serious, and potentially life-threatening, sleep disorder. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have sleep apnea, see a doctor right away. Sleep apnea can be successfully treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), a mask-like device that delivers a stream of air while you sleep. Losing weight, elevating the head of the bed, and sleeping on your side can also help in cases of mild to moderate sleep apnea.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
  • Loud, chronic snoring
  • Frequent pauses in breathing during sleep
  • Gasping, snorting, or choking during sleep
  • Feeling exhausted after waking and sleepy during the day, no matter how much time you spent in bed
  • Waking up with shortness of breath, chest pains, headaches, nasal congestion, or a dry throat

There are three types of sleep apnoea :

(1) Obstructive sleep apnoea -when the back of your throat relaxes and blocks the airway 

(2) Central sleep apnoea -when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing 

(3)Complex sleep aponea -a combination of the above two 

Q.What are the other complications ?

Apart from high blood pressure ,it increases the risk of heart attacks ,strokes ,obesity and type 2 diabetes .

Q.How is it treated ?

Two treatment options exist :

CPAP(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)  :A CPAP machine is a mask that generates a strong air flow .This pushes away the soft tissues of the throat ,and can be an immediate treatment .

For patients who do not wish to wear a mask for life ,there is the option of a range of surgical treatments .

It helps in clearing the airway and is specially helpful if you have a deviated nasal septum ,enlarged tonsils ,or a small lower jaw .

Q.How long will I need to stay in hospital ?Is it expensive ?

An apnoeagraph study is an overnight procedure .It costs Rs 10,000.00p For more details and benefits ,please call +91 993 020 0204 or +91 900 466 8376 

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