Starting treatment for sleep problems
If you think that apnea is the cause of your health problems, we recommend going for a check-up. Timely diagnosis can prevent the development of other health problems and ensure better quality sleep that you need so much.
Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops temporarily, most often due to narrowing of the upper airways that prevent proper breathing.
This condition is often associated with snoring, and is accompanied by fatigue, high blood pressure, headache and other symptoms that can worsen your everyday life.
In case of ignoring apnea, you risk the possibility of developing other complications such as heart attack, high blood pressure or hypersomnolence, which can be responsible for accidents when driving a motor vehicle.
If you think that apnea is the cause of your health problems, we recommend going for a check-up. Timely diagnosis can prevent the development of other health problems and ensure better quality sleep that you need so much.
There are two types of apnea, and they differ in their place of action.
In obstructive apnea, the airways are blocked by the tongue, soft palate, larynx or tonsils. This prevents proper airflow, which prevents the body from getting the necessary amount of oxygen.
Once you stop breathing for a short time, a warning impulse comes to the brain that reflexively unblocks the airways and allows the canal to pass.
However, if the brain has to repeatedly unblock the airways in order to be able to breathe, there is a waste of energy that you need to function properly during the day.
As a result, the sleep cycle is disrupted, leading to fatigue, exhaustion and other problems such as headaches or difficulty concentrating.
This type of apnea is related to poor function of the vegetative nervous system. This part of the system is responsible for maintaining vital functions over which we have no control (breathing, heart rate, swallowing, intestinal peristalsis).
In the case of central apnea, the brain does not send adequate impulses to the respiratory system, which leads to respiratory arrest.
This type of apnea is less common than obstructive apnea, and occurs as a result of already experienced disorders such as heart failure, cerebral infarction, neurological muscle diseases or due to the use of narcotic drugs.
Apnea occurs due to narrowing of the airways in the area of the soft palate, uvula (tissue that looks like a bell in the oral cavity), larynx or tongue.
If the airway is completely narrowed, then the air does not pass through the ducts at all and breathing is stopped.
Apnea can be triggered by:
Excess weight creates a load on your body, and then every activity requires a higher supply of oxygen. Because of this, overweight people tend to breathe through their mouths.
Breathing through the mouth causes dry airways and narrowing of the airways of the nasal cavity, which can result in respiratory arrest.
Foods and beverages rich in simple sugars cause the formation of phlegm, a mucous fluid that naturally lubricates the lungs and upper respiratory tract. However, increased mucus secretion can cause nasal congestion and eventually breathing problems.
Due to the throwing back of the head when sleeping on our back, we automatically breathe through the mouth. Because of this, snoring, episodes of suffocation, and holding your breath in sleep can occur.
The smoke of cigarettes and other tobacco products dry out the mucous membranes, which is why there is an increased production of mucus once you quit smoking.
In addition to cigarettes, alcohol also causes dry mucous membranes due to dehydration of the body. The resulting mucus disrupts breathing and there are problems with snoring and possible respiratory arrest.
Although they help you fall asleep more easily, sleeping pills and sedatives further relax the muscles in the throat, which make breathing problems even more pronounced.
In the elderly, the muscles of the tongue and neck naturally weaken and therefore there are changes in breathing, including snoring during sleep.
Apnea is not easy to notice because its symptoms are often intertwined with other problems, which causes later diagnosis.
But the following symptoms can raise the suspicion of sleep apnea disorders:
Although you may not necessarily be aware of it, snoring can irritate your loved ones. This is one of the first indicators that could indicate apnea. Snoring occurs due to the vibration of narrowed airways, and loud snoring indicates more relaxed muscles in the pharynx and tongue that can cause obstructive apnea.
If it does not receive enough oxygen, your body may reflexively react with sudden movements and jerks that would indicate short-term suffocation. Likewise, your partner may notice difficulty breathing that looks like you’re holding your breath. A scene like this indicates poor airflow, so you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Sweating during sleep can indicate physical stress that occurs due to shortness of breath. Due to shortness of breath, the respiratory system needs more energy to function properly. Blocked airways put the body in a state of constant strain, and as a result of any physical activity, sweating occurs.
Dry mouth is caused by breathing through the mouth. When air has a hard time passing through the nasal cavity, we automatically start breathing through our mouths to breathe in more air. Mouth breathing is increased if you sleep on your back, and the air gradually dries out your mouth during the night.
Morning headaches appear due to poor sleep rhythm and lack of oxygen in sleep. When the airways are narrowed, the body breathes less air and therefore oxygen. You will feel exhausted and dizzy, in which case the headache appears as one of the first indicators of lack of sleep.
Due to narrowed airways such as a stuffy nose, it is sometimes uncomfortable to fall asleep. Feeling stuffy and unable to breathe fully can result in difficulty sleeping and insomnia.
In addition to exhaustion and dizziness, poor sleep can result in problems focusing on certain tasks during the day. Memory problems are also characteristic of sleep deprivation and possible apnea.
If you haven’t had enough sleep, everything in the environment can bother you, and therefore be a problem. You may not notice some of these symptoms on your own. Your loved ones should let you know if they notice phenomena such as loud snoring, an episode of breath holding or choking in their sleep. By going for an examination in time, problems can be diagnosed in time and their development can be prevented.
At the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic, we conduct several diagnostic examinations that can diagnose sleep apnea:
Polygraphy is one of the methods of examining sleep with the help of a device that monitors your vital functions. Take the equipment you get at the polyclinic home and plug it in before going to bed. The apparatus consists of a chest strap, a nasal cannula and a finger probe. These devices record heart rate, blood oxygen levels, airflow, and breathing patterns.
The device is returned to the polyclinic on the second day and the obtained parameters are analyzed. In case of abnormalities, appropriate therapy is prescribed.
Polysomnography is a method of testing sleep that is carried out in a laboratory during one night. For a period of at least 6 hours, you will be connected to various devices that will record your vital functions during sleep. The tests are performed under the control of a sleep technician, and the heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen level and air flow through the mouth and nose are recorded.
The obtained results are used to provide an adequate diagnosis and further treatment of possible disorders.
Endoscopy in a dream observes the dynamics of your airways.
Before the examination, you will be given a sleeping pill, and after you fall asleep, we examine the upper respiratory tract and observe possible disturbances such as thickening of the tissue, possible nasal deviation or narrowing in the area of the soft palate.
The examination is performed with the use of a flexible endoscope and lasts about 2 hours. Before the examination, you are required to fill out an anesthesia form to avoid complications such as an allergic reaction to anesthesia.
There are numerous solutions that you can use to improve the quality of your sleep on your own.
Some of these solutions include:
If these solutions still do not provide you with a better and more restful sleep, it is necessary to include other methods that would adequately take care of the removal of apnea.
At the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic, we apply several methods to treat apnea problems:
With an anti-snoring splint , we move the lower jaw by a maximum of one centimeter, which frees the airways and facilitates the flow of air.
We opt for surgery when we notice disturbances caused by thickening or deformation of tissues. For example, nasal septum surgery would be the best solution in the case of a deviated septum that made breathing much more difficult.
The operation can also be performed on the soft palate or uvula, but a small number of clients meet the criteria for such a procedure.
Positional therapy works on the principle of placing a small device on the neck that vibrates when you sleep on your back. The device forces you to change your sleeping position without waking up. This is a suitable solution for people who experience apnea by sleeping on their backs.
A CPAP machine consists of a pump and a mask that is positioned on the nose and mouth. The pressure mask blows air, which constantly widens the airways and makes breathing easier.
Insomnia does not necessarily occur due to physical disorders that make it difficult to sleep. They can occur as a result of other circumstances that greatly affect your mental health.
With cognitive-behavioral therapy, you can learn thoughts and behavioral patterns that encourage healthy and quality sleep.
At the Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic, we do everything to provide you with better dreams from which you will wake up cheerful and rested. By conducting adequate examinations, we determine the type and level of the disorder, and then give you a therapy that can get rid of apnea forever.
Make an appointment for an examination and take the first step towards quality sleep, call us at +385 1 2444 646 or fill out our online form.
The main goal of LF Polyclinic is to improve the quality of life and health of our clients by providing them with top-notch healthcare services.
