By: Dr P. Harihara Murthy

The burgeoning health issues that are being faced by an upwardly mobile population notwithstanding, the problems of Sleep apnea have been slighted by not giving them their due concern and understanding. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is a condition that is caused by over-relaxation of your throat muscles during sleep, causing a dynamic obstruction or static obstruction caused by anatomical / structural variations in the air passages to free unrestricted flow of air through the natural conduits of air passages, thereby preventing your body from receiving enough oxygen to the brain. In severe cases of obstructive sleep apnoea, which is also known as OSA, this lack of oxygen supply can cause damage to the brain, resulting in memory issues, challenges while concentrating, and moodiness.

Studies have shown that lack of sleep has shown an increased reduction in white matter that hampered impaired thinking, mood and alertness. In fact, there are studies that have connected sleep apnoea with road accidents, as the person behind the wheel wasn’t alert and fully aware of their surroundings. Falling asleep at the wheel has been the cause of many accidents. Vertiginous symptoms are sometimes caused by improper sleep due to the same causes!

Sleep apnoea has also resulted in several comorbidities, which include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, and in some cases even strokes. Several studies have shown how OSA results in these health conditions or even aggravates them, and while these health conditions are treated, OSA is often ignored.

There are some questions you need to ask yourself in case you want to test yourself for OSA. These include the following:

• Do you snore at night? 
• Do you feel tired, fatigued, or disoriented during the day? 
• Has anyone observed you stop breathing while you are asleep? 
• Do you have high blood pressure? 
• Are you aged between 30 and 60? 
• Is the circumference of your neck more than 40 centimeters?

In case you answer yes for any one or more of these questions, you definitely need to get yourself checked for OSA. A good night’s sleep is one where you breathe calmly throughout the night, your organs get ample rest, and there is the right amount of oxygen that reaches your brain.

Timely treatment for OSA ensures that your airways remain open during sleep so that you can breathe normally. While lifestyle changes such as weight loss, giving up on alcohol or cigarettes can treat OSA, more severe cases require mechanical interventions and sometimes surgery targeted towards the specific problems the person with Sleep apnea is facing. Besides, the customized treatment ensures specific solutions rather than off-the-shelf solutions that are more general. One mechanical intervention is the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device that is commonly used to treat OSA.

A CPAP machine comprises a mask that you are required to wear over your nose and mouth while sleeping – think of it as an N95 mask that you wear while traveling outside the house. This mask has a hose connected to a tiny machine that is kept by your bedside. The machine pumps in the air at a constant pressure into your airway to ensure that it remains open. While this is a great method to treat your OSA, there are chances that individuals may get addicted to the machine i.e. they won’t be able to sleep without using it all night. This will ensure oxygen reaches your brain, and that your body gets well-rested.

Besides the CPAP machine, there are other innovative devices that have garnered a lot of popularity, particularly during the COVID19 pandemic. These devices can be worn on your wrist or tied around your finger and will monitor your sleeping patterns. The data will then be shared on an app on your mobile phone, which will then be shared with a medical expert, who will advise you on the road ahead to make you better. The best thing is that these devices are affordable and will hopefully end the cocktail of medicines you are having in case you are being treated for several conditions that arise from OSA. Bottom line is that you need a good night’s sleep, and you deserve it!