Sleep Apnea
One thing about sleep apnea is that it is an epidemic, but it is silent. There are known to be 1 billion people worldwide to be having sleep apnea, but 80-90% of those don't know that they have this disease. Clearly, no research shows it has a significant reduction to life expectancy, but it can have a severe effect on the quality of life. For example, from minor episode of fatigue or little yawn whilst reading to the other end of the spectrum- the most severe case with individuals can experience over 30 breathing pauses per hour, which disrupt sleep quality, and therefore when you go to work and go to school, your concentration will have a radical difference to someone that had a good quality sleep.
In addition, each apnea episode can lower the oxygen level in the blood by 40%, which puts immense strain on the heart and the brain, and linking to high blood pressure, around 50% of people with high blood pressure have obstructive sleep apnea, and treating obstructive sleep apnea can help lower blood pressure levels. Severe sleep apnea can also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia because of the reduced oxygen supply and the disrupted deep sleep stages, which are very important for memory consolidation throughout the day, in which they lack.
When I talked to the ENT registrars and consultants throughout my work experience, sleep apnea remain as one of the most common conditions found in the specialty, and at the same time that sleep apnea is extremely prevalent, but is often an underdiagnosed sleep disorder that is defined as interruptions in breathing during sleep. One aspect of sleep apnea that is fatally austere is its linkage to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive decline. More importantly, untreated obstructive sleep apnea can increase the risk of stroke by up to four times.
Moreover, individuals with obstructive sleep apnea can experience fragmented sleep leading to excessive daytime sleepiness, which can contribute to impaired cognitive functions and a heightened risk of motor vehicle accidents. Therefore, the government has put in a scheme that before someone has to take a driving exam, they must list out their medical complication, including sleep apnea. One recent study suggested that untreated OSA patients are up to 2.5 times more likely to be involved in road traffic accidents. The NHS has a variety of ways to deal with sleep apnea, from a patient wandering to the A&E to get it sorted, to a more multifaceted approach to manage sleep apnea with diagnosis and interventions. It's called the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine. This machine can improve sleep quality and reduce long-term health risk. As for every single disease, obesity is a major risk factor.
The NHS also supports lifestyle modification programmes and also at-home sleep studies to alleviate pressure on the specialist sleep clinic and also the ENT wards and the ASDEC.
Furthermore, in the contemporary NHS climate, NHS is exploring telemedicine consultation, for example, e-clinic, in order to accentuate the importance of follow-up care and ensure adherence to CPAP therapy. Some people amongst the population must be slightly aware about their sleeping condition, firstly, middle-aged and older adults, preferably 40 years old, are at the highest risk because they're due to age, because there are changes in the muscle tone and fat distribution during that period of age. Men are more commonly affected than women, particularly before menopause, but however, post-menopausal women can also experience an increase in risk because of hormonal changes. And then children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids are also susceptible, with paediatric OSA leading to developmental and behavioural issues if left untreated.
So, really, if we leave it as it is, what can sleep apnea do to you? There are a few main things that can majorly interrupt your lifestyle. One is that untreated sleep apnea extends not just the disruptive sleep and fatigue in your day-to-day life, it can also increase the risk of diseases, despite having a healthy diet, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and cognitive impairments. For example, memory deficits, concentration difficulties and the potential link to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and the mental health conditions. Overall, there are 1.5 million people in the UK that suffer from OSA, which is a substantial proportion, and almost 85% of individuals with OSA have no idea that they have OSA. Obesity additionally shows to be a major risk factor, as over 70% of OSA patients are classified overweight or obese.
Written by Bernard
Moderated by Adelene
References
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