Snoring, few know what it is, but it affects many people. It is a sleep disorder consisting of russamento, often accompanied by respiratory apnea. Problems apparently harmless, but which, if chronic, can also cause damage to the cardiovascular, cerebral or metabolic systems. We took stock with the doctor Renata Enriù, founder and CEO of Respiratory, one of the leading Italian companies specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep breathing disorders.
“Snoring is often one of the most obvious symptoms ofPART, or the Sleep apnea syndrome. In Italy he suffers from OSAS on average 10% of people, 17% in some segments of the population, but few are aware of it. It is a pathology that is still too little known, a risk factor for many other serious pathologies. Making this disease known is the first step to really help people ».
What does sleep apnea consist of?
“It’s a respiratory arrest of a few minutes, which can be caused by a morphological conformation of the airways (deviated nasal septum, problems with the jaw or tonsils …) or by obesity, or in minor cases by a neurological problem. During sleep, the neck muscles relax and this causes the passage of air to be restricted or totally blocked, causing sleep apnea. This can happen many times during the night, too up to 15 times in an hour, completely unconsciously ».
What health problems can be linked to sleep apnea?
«Sleep apnea can constitute risk factor for coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, arterial hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes. But they are also dangerous for daytime sleepiness: a patient with OSAS risks road accidents thirteen times more than a healthy individual “.
How can you tell if you have sleep apnea?
«First of all, the daytime well-being: if you always feel exhausted, if you suffer from morning headaches, loss of attention, concentration, memory or if you have attacks of irritability or anxiety. These are all signs to be monitored ».
What if you get a hint that you suffer from sleep apnea?
«There is a specific non-invasive examination, which is called polysomnography, or simply cardio-respiratory monitoring. With it they measure theintensity and the quantity of apneas: how long they last, if they make the blood desaturate… The recording path provided by the polysomnography must be subjected to the analysis of a specialist who will be able to recommend the right therapy and the most suitable devices to conduct it ».
Once it is established that you suffer from sleep apnea, what solutions are there?
«By specifying that the solution must be agreed with the attending physician, in some cases the solution must be found in the daily habits. For example, if the cause is overweight or obesity, significant weight loss can improve or completely resolve sleep apnea.
Among the remedies, they can be adopted mechanical aids such as mandibular advancement devices (of dental expertise), surgical solutions that support the release of the soft palate (otolaryngologist), or positive pressure ventilatory treatment (CPAP), a device that delivers a flow of air that keeps the airways open respiratory “.
Is snoring, on the other hand, directly linked to sleep apnea?
“The russamento it is a sign that there may be sleep apnea, but it is not a symptom of it: of the 30-40% of the population suffering from snoring, only 10-15% have sleep apnea. Snoring is nothing more than a noise that is generated when the flow of air becomes turbulent in the upper respiratory tract ».
If so, what problems can it cause? Are there any solutions?
«The problems are above all of social orderAccording to our recent research, couples who struggle with the problem of snoring have a high divorce rate. Over 50% of the couples interviewed, in fact, argue about this problem and the animosity of the discussion is fueled by lack of sleep, tiredness and irritability. If one partner snores loudly, gasps or is oppressed by sleep apnea, the other sleeps badly and in the morning is tired and aggressive. Not to mention that snoring can also negatively affect your sex life with your partner.
Solutions?
«After having carried out the examination of polysomnography in this case as well, they can be adopted practical solutions, using special pillows or wearing special devices that release electrical stimuli, which “invite” during sleep to change position. In extremis? Moving to the sofa or to another room! ».
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