What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing, ranging from 10 to 20 seconds, affecting the bodys oxygen supply and negatively impacting sleep quality. This forces the brain to wake the person to resume breathing, resulting in frequent awakenings during sleep. The patient experiences discomfort and distress, and it significantly impacts cardiovascular health, behavior, quality of life, and driving safety.

Patients suspected of having obstructive Sleep Apnea typically experience excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, gasping, choking, or noticeable pauses in breathing during sleep. Excessive daytime sleepiness is one of the most common symptoms. Sleep Apnea is usually more common in males than females before the age of 50, but after this age, the incidence is equal in both sexes.

Types of Sleep Apnea:

* Obstructive Sleep Apnea :

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type. It occurs when the airways become blocked due to muscle relaxation at the back of the throat, preventing the normal flow of air in and out of the mouth and nose. The diaphragm and chest muscles work harder than usual to keep the airway open, leading to snoring or body jerking. Sleep apnea can also cause irregular heartbeats due to reduced oxygen flow to the bodys organs.

* Central Sleep Apnea :

This is the least common type and occurs when the brain temporarily stops sending nerve signals to the muscles that control breathing. It is often caused by an underlying medical condition. People with central sleep Apnea often experience sleep Apnea without snoring.

* Mixed Sleep Apnea Syndrome :

This is a rare combination of obstructive and central Sleep Apnea.

Sleep Study (PSG):

This test involves examining several bodily functions during sleep to assess sleep quality and diagnose health problems affecting sleep, including obstructive or central sleep apnea. It involves monitoring the patients sleep and observing any abnormal changes that may cause sleep disturbances.

Where to Get a Sleep Study:

A complete sleep study requires testing in a sleep lab at a medical center or hospital equipped to diagnose obstructive or central sleep apnea.

The Neurology Department at the International Medical Center is one of the largest specialized centers in this field. The department houses a sleep study lab equipped with the latest technologies for highly accurate diagnosis of sleep Apnea and for determining a treatment protocol based on the cause and severity of the ِApnea.

If you suffer from Sleep Apnea and need help, dont hesitate to visit us.