Consequences of sleep apnea

Don’t underestimate breathing pauses at night!

Sleep apnoea causes breathing interruptions during sleep.

(Bild: detailblick-foto/stock.adobe.com)

Snoring with breathing pauses at night not only puts a strain on your partner, but also on your own health. This is because non-restorative sleep and disturbed oxygen uptake during slumber cause numerous secondary diseases.

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SBAS) include obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), in which breathing is repeatedly reduced or stopped completely during sleep due to a narrowing of the upper airways.

Snoring with pauses in breathing, non-restorative sleep, extreme daytime sleepiness as well as obesity and high blood pressure indicate the presence of this condition, as Dr. Irene Sperk, Head of the Sleep Laboratory at Franziskus Spital Margareten in Vienna, reports in the specialist magazine "Ärzte Krone". "The pauses in breathing result in poor sleep quality and a considerable lack of oxygen, which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular disease," says Dr. Sperk.

Serious consequences if left untreated 
The consequences of untreated sleep apnoea are manifold. For example, there is a risk of diseases such as arterial hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attack, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, but also diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, renal insufficiency and depression.

The ability to drive can also be impaired due to significantly increased daytime sleepiness. Patients with sleep apnoea are up to six times more likely to be involved in accidents, as their ability to react is slowed down and the likelihood of microsleep increases. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are therefore important.

Tips for better sleep quality

• Make sure you get enough sleep and, if possible, go to bed before midnight and always at the same time. Individual sleep requirements are genetically determined. A duration of six to eight hours is generally recommended.
• Regular "sleep hygiene" measures. These include quiet rituals before going to bed, such as relaxation techniques, taking a walk or writing in a diary. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals in the evening!

Examination by a doctor and in a sleep laboratory
In order to make a diagnosis, the doctor will first analyze the quality of sleep, symptoms such as snoring etc., lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption) and work situation (e.g. shift work). Other important factors are obesity and the use of medication. If sleep apnoea is suspected, an outpatient sleep screening test (polygraphy) is carried out by a specialist in internal medicine and pneumology, a pulmonologist or an ENT specialist. "This is a device that records signals from the heart and breathing during sleep in the home environment," explains Dr. Sperk.

If this confirms the suspicion, the patient is referred to a sleep laboratory. "A polysomnography is carried out there. This analyzes snoring behaviour, sleep and heart activity, breathing and any leg movements using various sensors," the expert continues.

Remedy: from lifestyle changes to surgery
In many cases, measures such as weight reduction, avoiding lying on your back while napping and measures to optimize sleep hygiene already lead to an improvement in symptoms. 

The safest and most reliable therapy is non-invasive respiratory support with a respiratory mask (CPAP). This helps to ensure that the upper airways remain open during sleep by applying positive pressure in the mouth and nose area and to avoid prolonged pauses in breathing.

Sometimes a minor surgical procedure is required in the throat area. For example, the insertion of a tongue pacemaker may be considered if the breathing mask is intolerable. In certain forms of jaw misalignment, the fitting of a special splint (mandibular advancement splint) often helps to counteract a narrowing of the airways.