What are the health risks associated with Sleep Apnea?

• Left untreated, sleep apnea can have significant health consequences

• Doubles the risk of Hypertension
• Increased risk of heart attack or heart failure ,Atrial Fibrillation (double the risk)
• Increases the risk and causes poor control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Increased risk of stroke (3 times greater risk)

• Who is at risk of having Sleep Apnea?

• Overweight or obese people
• Patients with comorbid conditions like Diabetes, hypertension ,heart failure, atrial fibrillation should be screened for Sleep Apnea
• If there is a family history of OSA or snoring
• People with small lower jaw and crowded upper airway
• Male gender
• Large neck circumference, Large tonsils or a blocked nose can also cause Sleep Apnea.
• People with associated Medical Conditions as below are also at increased risk of OSA
• Medications like Sleeping Pills, sedatives, narcotics and alcohol consumption at bedtime
• Post-menopausal (for women)
• Hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone)
• Acromegaly (high levels of growth hormone)
• Muscular diseases like dystrophies etc.

How is Sleep Apnea detected?

The role of further evaluation and treatment is to work out why someone has Sleep Apnea, what effect it is having on their health, and what treatments are best suited for them. If you have symptoms of it, you should discuss them with your doctor or consult a Sleep Specialist. They may advise you to have a sleep study to determine if it is present, and if so, how bad it is.

How is sleep apnea treated?

In treating sleep apnea, it is important to focus on the goal of treatment, as the aim of treatment will determine choice of treatment. For those with Severe condition, the aim of treatment is to improve sleepiness during the day and also to reduce the negative effects of it on blood pressure, heart function and diabetes. Whereas for those with mild sleep apnea, the aim of treatment may be to reduce the noise of snoring that is disturbing the bed partner. Therefore, it is important to know the severity of it and its effects on health to develop and appropriate treatment plan for each individual.