Description
Snoring can be more than just a nuisance; it might be a sign of underlying health issues. Chronic snoring is often associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, which can lead to cardiovascular problems if untreated. Snoring can also be indicative of other health concerns such as nasal congestion, obesity, or anatomical abnormalities of the throat and nose. In children, snoring might signal enlarged tonsils or adenoids, potentially affecting their growth and development. Consulting a healthcare provider is advisable to determine the cause and appropriate treatment for snoring.
Résumé
- Sleep is a reversible state of unconsciousness vital for physical and mental rest, memory consolidation, waste removal from the brain via the lymphatic system, hormone balancing, creativity enhancement, and energy conservation. It also supports cell restoration, muscle repair, tissue growth, and hormone release.
- Sleep deprivation can lead to increased levels of hunger hormones (leptin and ghrelin), reduced satiety, cravings for unhealthy foods, increased insulin resistance (potentially leading to diabetes), decreased physical activity and obesity, memory issues, and weakened immune responses.
- Sleep disorders are categorized by issues with sleep onset, sleep maintenance, abnormal movements during sleep, sleep-related breathing problems (like Obstructive Sleep Apnea - OSA), and circadian rhythm disorders. Common examples include insomnia, OSA, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and restless legs syndrome.
- Snoring is caused by vibrations of structures in the upper respiratory tract during sleep due to airway obstruction. While simple snoring may not be problematic, snoring accompanied by daytime sleepiness, fatigue, or apnea episodes requires evaluation. Potential causes include retrognathia, macroglossia, a thick soft palate, adenoid hypertrophy, sinus issues, weight gain, poor sleep posture, alcohol consumption, and hormone changes.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is characterized by complete airway collapse during sleep, resulting in decreased oxygen saturation and arousal. It is associated with various lifestyle disorders. Apnea, defined as a breathing stoppage of over 10 seconds, leads to chronic hypoxemia as the body doesn't receive enough oxygen.
- Risk factors for OSA include obesity, large tonsils, smoking, high BMI, increased collar size, alcohol use, sedative use, micrognathia, retrognathia, elongated face, adenotonsillar hypertrophy, central fat distribution, advancing age, male gender, supine sleeping position, pregnancy, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypothyroidism, neurological disorders, and congenital heart failure.
- OSA can result in hypoxemia, hypercapnea, sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, endothelial dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. This can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and mortality. Symptoms to watch for include excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, observed apnea, choking, dry mouth, morning headaches, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and unrefreshing sleep.
- Evaluation for OSA involves a comprehensive history, physical examination, screening questionnaires (like the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and STOP-Bang questionnaire), sleep endoscopy, and polysomnography (sleep study). Polysomnography involves monitoring brain activity (EEG), eye movements (EOG), muscle activity (EMG), airflow, nasal pressure, heart activity (ECG), oxygen saturation, and often includes sound recording and video monitoring.
- Treatment for OSA includes CPAP therapy (continuous positive airway pressure), which maintains airway patency during sleep. Non-CPAP therapies include surgical options (like uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), mandibular advancement devices, and hypoglossal nerve stimulators.
- Improving sleep quality involves reducing stress and anxiety through relaxation techniques like meditation, creating a dark, quiet, and cool sleep environment, removing electronic devices from the bedroom, avoiding large meals and caffeine before bedtime, taking short afternoon naps, and taking a warm shower before sleeping. If unable to fall asleep within 20 minutes, one should get out of bed and engage in a relaxing activity until feeling sleepy.
Exemple de certificat
À propos des intervenants
Dr. Anusha C.
Pneumologue consultant, hôpital Manipal, Bangalore
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