by Cristina Marrone
Some signs other than snoring are common to other pathologies but represent important clues. Sleep apnea is dangerous for your health and it is best to intercept it in time
Sleep apnea is a respiratory disorder characterized by repeated episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airways during sleep which reduce the supply of oxygen and lead to the fragmentation of sleep itself because they cause many micro-awakenings. Approximately one in four adults suffer from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Mostly these are men but, unlike what many people think, women can also have to deal with it, especially after menopause. Apneas typically last 10 to 30 seconds, but can sometimes exceed a minute; if the obstruction is only partial, snoring occurs, which generally precedes the onset of the actual syndrome by a few years.
Why sleep apnea is dangerous
The intermittent decrease in oxygen supply caused by apnea increases the risk of hypertension (more than half of patients with drug-resistant high blood pressure suffer from apnea), cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, fatty liver, kidney and eye dysfunction, motor vehicle accidents (from two to seven times more), at work and at home caused by daytime drowsiness linked to poor sleep. Overweight and obesity are among the most important risk factors, but around 40 percent of those with apnea do not have extra pounds; a short, wide neck or a small jaw also predispose to apneas because they can favor nocturnal collapse of the upper airways.
Often those who suffer from sleep apnea do not notice anything and their partner notices the breathing pauses. Snoring is a typical symptom of this disorder, but not the only one and not even necessarily present. For example, many women do not snore as loudly as men. Here are other signs of obstructive sleep apnea to watch out for
Night sweats
There are many reasons why people may sweat at night: taking certain medications, tumors, thyroid problems, flu, bacterial infections. Research, however, has shown that approximately 30% of people suffering from obstructive apnea report night sweats. When the body does not receive enough oxygen, the fight and flight reaction of the sympathetic nervous system comes into play, with the release of noradrenal na to deal with an emergency situation. The situation triggers night sweats. It has been found that people with obstructive sleep apnea who also experience night sweats are more likely to have very low oxygen levels.
Frequent waking up to go to the bathroom
Many people wake up at night to empty their bladder. There can be many reasons: excessive alcohol consumption or even drinking too much water before going to bed; diabetes, hypertension, pregnancy, consumption of certain drugs, prostate problems. The need to get up at least twice during the night to go to the bathroom (nocturia), especially in those under 65 years of age, can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. 50% of patients with obstructive apnea and nocturia note that nocturnal awakenings decrease with treatment.
Grinding your teeth
Grinding or clenching your teeth while sleeping is called bruxism, and this can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. The hypothesis, not yet proven, that the airways become blocked, so the muscles of the mouth and jaws move to try to free the blocked airways. Most people who grind their teeth use dental braces to protect themselves, but this system does not protect the jaw and jaw dysfunction can in turn lead to other problems such as headaches.
Morning headache
The Education found a link between obstructive sleep apnea and waking up with headaches that occur most days of the week and can last several hours after waking up in the morning. The reasons for these types of headaches are not fully known, and could be multifactorial. According to one 2015 study Sleep apnea headaches would not lead to nausea or increased sensitivity to light or sound, but rather pressure on both sides of the forehead that lasts about thirty minutes.
Depression, tiredness, insomnia
Some symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can masquerade as mental health problems, mental confusion, or other sleep disturbances. If obstructive sleep apnea causes nocturnal awakenings, it may be difficult to fall back to sleep: a person may suspect insomnia without realizing that a different problem is causing the awakenings. Among the symptoms present during the day and due to sleep fragmentation are excessive drowsiness, attention and memory deficits, difficulty concentrating, headaches, mood swings, erectile dysfunction and decreased desire; drowsiness and tiredness, in addition to reducing productivity, can cause road or work accidents, even serious ones.
Corriere della Sera also on Whatsapp. sufficient click here to subscribe to the channel and always be updated.
January 9, 2024 (modified January 9, 2024 | 11:58)
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED