Sleep is a basic human need. If you have sleep apnea and as a result get much less sleep, that can be a big problem. What is sleep apnea and how many people suffer from it? How dangerous is it and what can you do about it? We explain.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where you temporarily stop breathing while sleeping. That lasts at least 10 seconds and occurs several times per hour, from 5 to sometimes even 50 times per hour. It affects about 1 in 100 people and you can also have sleep apnea without noticing. Men between the ages of 45 and 65 suffer from it most often on average, but it is also a common problem among women.
How does sleep apnea develop?
It can arise in 2 different ways, through physical or neurological failure. In the 1st case, your airways are blocked, for example due to your tongue or your tonsils. This causes your breathing to stop and there is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). But it can also happen that your brain fails to control the respiratory muscles. Even then there is no breathing, although the airways are clear. We call this Central Sleep Apnea (CSA).
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What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
If you snore and/or have restless sleep, this may be an indication of sleep apnea. In addition, there are several physical discomforts that can occur in combination with sleep apnea, such as being overweight, high blood pressure and night sweats. The same applies to physical and mental disorders such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and depression. Sleep apnea may be the underlying cause for these types of discomfort.
What are the effects of sleep apnea?
If you have sleep apnea, you sleep irregularly and you may suffer from an oxygen deficiency, with all its consequences. You may wake up several times, you may not notice it, but you are not rested when you wake up. Sleep is important to us and the consequences can be serious if you don’t get enough sleep for an extended period of time. Think of fatigue, concentration problems, a lack of energy or even cardiac arrhythmias.
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How can you find out if you have sleep apnea?
If you sleep next to your partner, he or she may notice irregularities during your sleep. This can include irregular breathing, loud snoring sounds and gasping for breath. And if you find yourself waking up often or not rested, that could also indicate sleep apnea. Since 2018, there has been a special watch on the market that allows you to measure your oxygen level while you sleep. You can also have your blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood sugar level, weight and kidneys checked by your doctor. In the hospital or sleep clinic there are special sleep studies.
what can you do about it?
Your lifestyle can already make a difference. If possible, you can try to lose weight. Cutting back on smoking, alcohol – up to 1 glass a day, more than 1 hour before bedtime – and sedatives can also help. Also try to pay attention to your sleeping position: sleep on your stomach or side (instead of your back) and make sure your head is higher than the rest of your body. For persistent sleep apnea, you can use special braces, mouthguards or masks. Pay close attention to what you get, as the Philips issue from 2022 teaches us. The company has been discredited for its sleep apnea devices, which have been shown to produce harmful substances. The aftermath of this affair costs Philips more than 1 billion euros.
(Source: Archive, Thuisarts, Longfonds, Ruysdael Sleep Clinic, Apnea Association, NU.nl. Photo: Shutterstock)