Obstructive Sleep Apnea
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that causes a person’s breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. With obstructive sleep apnea – the most common form of sleep apnea – throat muscles intermittently relax, blocking the airway. The blockage means that your diaphragm and chest muscles must work harder to get air into the lungs. You may snore, gasp for breath, or snort while you are sleeping.
UTHealth神经科学specialists have the experience and expertise to diagnose and create a comprehensive treatment plan for sleep apnea. Treatment might include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), other therapies, or possibly a minimally invasive procedure.
阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停原因
There are a few different reasons why your throat muscles might relax too much during sleep. The muscles involved can include those around the roof of the mouth, the tonsils, and the tongue. Thickened tissue of excessive fat storage in that area could also be narrowing and restricting airflow. Tonsils could be enlarged, a patient’s neck could be wide, or there could be a dental issue, such as an overbite.
吸烟，吸毒和过敏被认为是促成因素。肥胖也是一个主要的危险因素，因为被诊断的人中有一半以上被认为超重或肥胖。
阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的迹象
Common signs of obstructive sleep apnea include fatigue, dry mouth, sore throat, headaches forgetfulness, night sweats, and snoring. A child with obstructive sleep apnea might also wet the bed, choke, drool, or grind teeth during the night.
如果您与某人共用床，您的伴侣可能会在您之前识别阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的症状。
Diagnosis
A doctor may examine your throat, nose, and mouth to look for extra tissue or other obstructions. A sleep specialist will likely conduct a nocturnal polysomnogram, or an overnight sleep study that monitors movement and breathing during the night. A home sleep test might also be prescribed depending on they symptoms.
治疗
The most common and successful method of treatment is a CPAP machine. The mask and machine help increase air pressure just enough to keep open upper airway passages. While it can be cumbersome for some patients, the evolving technology successfully treats most cases.
无法忍受CPAP的患者可以使用上部气道刺激。通过这种处理，将稀薄的脉冲发生器植入胸部。当设备检测到呼吸失误时，该设备有助于刺激舌头的运动。
Several surgical options also exist, depending on the exact cause of your obstructive sleep apnea. Surgeons may perform a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty to remove tissue from the back of your mouth or throat. Tonsils or adenoids may also be removed. In some cases, the tissue can be removed by laser.
Doctors might recommend that patients with obstructive sleep apnea adopt some lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or regular exercise. Limiting alcohol and quitting smoking is also recommended. Nasal decongestant or allergy medicine can also help reduce symptoms.
Sleep Disorders
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