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  • Sleep Apnoea

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    Sleep apnoea occurs when the walls of the throat come together during sleep. Breathing stops for a period of time (generally between a few seconds and up to one minute) brain registers lack of breathing and sends a small wake-up call. Most people don't even realise they are waking up.

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    Sleep apnoea occurs when the walls of the throat come together during sleep. Breathing stops for a period of time (generally between a few seconds and up to one minute) brain registers lack of breathing and sends a small wake-up call. Most people don't even realise they are waking up.

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    12 views2 pages

    Sleep Apnoea

    Uploaded by

    kapczuk
    Sleep apnoea occurs when the walls of the throat come together during sleep. Breathing stops for a period of time (generally between a few seconds and up to one minute) brain registers lack of breathing and sends a small wake-up call. Most people don't even realise they are waking up.

    Copyright:

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
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    Image description. Better Health Channel logo End of image description.

    Sleep apnoea
    Sleepapnoeaoccurswhenthewallsofthethroatcometogetherduringsleep,blockingoffthe upperairwayatthelevelofthetongue.Breathingstopsforaperiodoftime(generallybetweena fewsecondsanduptooneminute)untilthebrainregistersthelackofbreathingoradropin oxygenlevelsandsendsasmallwake-upcall.Thesleeperrousesslightly,openstheupperairway, typicallysnortsandgasps,thendriftsbacktosleepalmostimmediately. Inmostcases,thepersonsufferingfromsleepapnoeadoesntevenrealisetheyarewakingup. Thispatterncanrepeatitselfhundredsoftimesovereverynight,causingfragmentedsleep.This leavesthepersonwithunrefreshedsleep,excessivedaytimesleepinessandfatigue.Itsestimated thataboutfivepercentofAustralianssufferfromthissleepdisorder,witharoundoneinfourmen overtheageof30yearsaffected. Degrees of severity Thefullnameforthisconditionisobstructivesleepapnoea.Anotherrareformofbreathing disturbanceduringsleepiscalledcentralsleepapnoea.Itiscausedbyadisruptiontothenerve messagessentbetweenthebrainandthebody.Theseverityofsleepapnoeadependsonhow oftenthebreathingisinterrupted.Asaguide: Normallessthanfiveinterruptionsanhour Mild sleep apnoeabetween5and15interruptionsanhour Moderate sleep apnoeabetween15and30interruptionsanhour Severe sleep apnoeaover30interruptionsanhour.

    Ima ge des crip

    Symptoms Peoplewithsignificantsleepapnoeahaveanincreasedriskofmotorvehicleaccidentsand hypertensionandmayhaveanincreasedriskofheartattackandstroke.Intheover-30yearsage group,thedisorderisaboutthreetimesmorecommoninmenthanwomen.Someofthe associatedsymptomsinclude: Daytimesleepiness,fatigueandtiredness Poorconcentration Irritabilityandmoodchanges Impotenceandreducedsexdrive.

    Causes Obesityisoneofthemostcommoncausesofsleepapnoea.Alossofaround5kgto10kgmaybe enoughtodramaticallyreducetheseverityofthedisorder.Othercontributingfactorsinclude: Alcohol,especiallyintheeveningthisrelaxesthethroatmusclesandhampersthebrains reactiontosleepdisorderedbreathing Certainillnesses,likereducedthyroidhormoneorthepresenceofaverylargegoitre Largetonsils,forinstanceduetotoomuchgrowthhormoneoracongenitalabnormality Medications,suchassleepingtabletsandsedatives Nasalcongestionandobstruction.

    Treatment Treatmentforsleepapnoeareliesonchangestolifestyle,includinglosingweightandcuttingdown onalcohol.Anycontributingmedicalcondition,suchaslowproductionofthyroidhormone,also needstobecorrected.Anysurgicalconditionssuchaslargetonsilsshouldbecorrected. Themosteffectivetreatmentavailableisamaskwornatnightthatkeepsthebackofthethroat openbyforcingairthroughthenose.Thisiscallednasalcontinuouspositiveairwaypressure (CPAP).However,somepeoplewithsleepapnoeafindthemaskdifficulttotolerate.

    Sleepapnoea

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    Anothertreatmentistheuseofamouthguard(ororalapplianceormandibularadvancement device).Whenproperlymade,itiseffectiveformildtomoderatesleepapnoea.Mouthguardsare alsousedinseveresleepapnoeaifthepersoncannottoleratetheCPAPmask.Theyworkby holdingthejawforwardduringsleep. Where to get help Yourdoctor Sleepdisordersclinic

    Things to remember

    Sleepapnoeaoccurswhenthewallsofthethroatcometogetherduringsleep,blockingoff theairwayabovethevoicebox. Aroundoneinfourmenovertheageof30yearshavesomedegreeofsleepapnoea. Conservativetreatmentincludesweightlossandcuttingbackonalcohol. ActivetreatmentincludesnasalCPAP,mouthguardsorsurgicalcorrectionofupperairway obstruction. Daytimesleepinessmaydistinguishsimplesnorersfrompeoplewithsleepapnoea.

    This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

    NewcastleSleepDisordersCentre

    Copyight 1999/2009StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel(www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)at nocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth.Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthe copyrightareprohibitedwithoutpermission. ThisBetterHealthChannelfactsheethaspassedthrougharigorousapprovalprocess.Forthelatestupdatesandmore informationvisitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

    Sleepapnoea

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