Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by episodes of disturbed or interrupted breathing during sleep associated with recurrent arousals and awakenings. The cessation in breathing (interruption) during sleep lasts for 10-30 seconds in patients with mild-to-moderate sleep apnea. However, in severe cases this cessation may last for even three minutes. It is estimated that in United States alone, over 12 million people suffer from sleep apnea. There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea characterized by recurrent hypoxemia and arousal and Central sleep apnea caused due to problem with signals from the brain that control breathing. The cardinal symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring, hypersomnolence (excessive daytime sleepiness), and restless sleep. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include choking or gasping during sleep, unrefreshing sleep, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, personality changes, memory impairment, impaired concentration, poor judgment, mood disturbances, recent weight gain, polyurea, and impotence. The goal of treatment for sleep apnea patients is to keep the airway open and prevent pauses in breathing during sleep. Various methods are used to alleviate sleep apnea including Behavioral Therapy such as avoiding alcohol and CNS depressants close to bedtime, weight reduction and sleep posture modification. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) works by gently blowing pressurized air through the nasal passage of the patient at a pressure high enough to prevent the throat from collapsing during sleep. Oral or dental appliances reposition the lower jaw and the tongue, thus opening up the space at the back of the throat, and helping treat sleep apnea. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) UPPP, the most common type of surgery to treat sleep apnea, enlarges airways by removing redundant tissue (tonsils, adenoids, uvula) from the pharynx. Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) can be performed in a specialist's office and involves the use of a laser to remove part of the soft palate, shorten the uvula (the tissue that hangs from the middle of the back of the roof of the mouth) and remove other excess tissue from the pharynx. Tracheostomy is a procedure in which a small hole is made in the trachea or windpipe below the site of obstruction and a tube is inserted into the opening. This tube is opened only during sleeping hours, so that air flows directly into the lungs, bypassing any blocked air passage in the throat. |
