Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is familiar to almost one-third of the Singaporean population. It’s one of the three types of sleep apnea, including Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) and Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CSAS). The focus is on OSA for its wider prevalence. An OSA patient suffers from frequent blockages in the upper airway in sleep, causing them to wake up every time. Due to disturbed sleep, issues like poor mood, low memory, inability to concentrate, and others are faced. Their daily activities suffer. Studies show that about 30.5% of Singaporeans have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea. However, 91% of the cases go unnoticed. Vulnerability to this disease increases in the ageing group. Anyone with obesity and tonsil problems also needs to be careful.
Without proper treatment for OSA, a person risks his health with stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and high BP. Please get timely help from an expert sleep apnea doctor if you notice any signs, such as sleepiness in the daytime, apnoeic episodes (waking up in the night due to choking), etc. A middle-aged, overweight patient may start snoring loudly due to OSA. Women usually experience restlessness in their legs, nightmares, insomnia, and depression.
- OSA Diagnostic tools
Different pathological methods, such as polysomnography, home sleep tests, physical examinations, oximetry, and the Epworth sleepiness scale, are available. Polysomnography (PSG) is a lab test in which the patient must spend a night at a hospital or sleep centre for monitoring through sensors that track eye movement, pulse, breathing, brain activity, and other actions. Home tests are simplified versions involving a portable monitor to record oxygen levels, breathing, heartbeats, and others during sleep. An ENT can also check your nose structure, tonsils, and airway to determine the signs of OSA. You can also be recommended to answer questions to measure your daytime sleepiness on Epworth Sleepiness Scale. It allows doctors to discern the severity of the disease. Likewise, oximetry can reveal the low oxygen level in your body at sleeping time.
- OSA Treatments
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is the standard procedure. You wear a mask to receive the air pressure that helps open the airway when asleep. This treatment benefits daytime sleepiness and neurocognitive health. It has also been proven effective on blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Sometimes, doctors also recommend surgery to boost the effects of CPAP therapy. They can work on the nose, tonsils, or palate to open the upper airway in patients having issues with CPAP pressure. Only surgery can also be recommended for those not suitable for CPAP or who suffer from structural anomalies in the upper airway. Nevertheless, many doctors proceed with CPAP first because it’s safer.
Sleep apnea has no cure but can be treated and managed well with adequate medical support. If you want to see a significant impact on your health, adopt a few lifestyle choices that promote your well-being. For example, weight management can be a crucial aspect. Pay attention to your diet and exercise. Reduce or quit drinking and smoking habits. These positive changes with professional therapies can sort out your entire life.
