Sleep apnea: causes, symptoms, treatment with folk remedies. Sleep apnea syndrome

At night, you regularly prevent the snoring of a loved one? But the problem is not limited to the inconvenience that is brought to others. The sleep apnea syndrome can be really dangerous, leading to many quite serious health problems. From the Greek language the term "apnea" is translated as "stopping breathing". Of course, we all voluntarily encounter forced stops of respiratory movements, for example, during immersion in water. However, unconscious breath-holding, lasting from 20 seconds to 3 minutes, over time can lead to disturbances that complicate both the physical and psychological state of a person.

Symptoms of the disease

Sleep apnea, the symptoms of which must be known to everyone, threatens to stop breathing. However, a person may not feel what happens during sleep and not suspect about their disease. It is worth paying attention to other obvious signs that characterize sleep apnea. It:

• Regular snoring.
• A feeling of suffocation that occurs during sleep.
• Broken and sleepy throughout the day.
• Morning headache.
• Reduced concentration and irritability.
• Sensation of dryness in the throat and in the mouth after awakening.

Types of apnea: central lack of breathing

Such a phenomenon as a central lack of breathing is rarely encountered in medical practice. This type of apnea is characterized by the fact that at some point the brain stops sending signals to respiratory muscles controlling respiration. Because of this, breathing stops. And, patients sleep so restlessly that they are able to remember their nightly awakenings. Central sleep apnea can lead to complications such as hypoxia or cardiovascular abnormalities.

Types of apnea: obstructive lack of breathing

Often doctors face obstructive lack of breathing. In this case, the lumen of the respiratory tract narrows critically, the muscles of the pharynx relax, the flow of air is interrupted. The oxygen level drops, and the person is forced to wake up to regain his breath. However, these awakenings are so short-lived that they are not remembered about them in the morning. On average, a person suffering from this type of apnea, such bouts of stopping breathing occur 5-30 times per hour. Naturally, about any full-fledged dream or rest it does not go. Obstructive sleep apnea, the treatment of which must begin when the first symptoms of the disease are detected, can lead to a number of disorders with health and well-being.

Types of apnea: complex breathing

This type of apnea possesses all the characteristic signs of both central and obstructive respiratory rhythm disturbances. Periodic breathing stops in combination with upper airway obstruction accompany a person throughout the entire sleep. Such sleep apnea syndrome requires immediate diagnosis and treatment, as it threatens with quite serious consequences, such as the development of coronary heart disease.

Apnea in children

Despite the fact that we are accustomed to consider this problem as an age-related problem, it can also occur in children. Children with increased tonsils and adenoids, lowering the palate and chin, and underdeveloped nervous system are at risk. Premature babies, newborns with Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy also suffer more often from nocturnal apnea. The cause may be and medicines taken by a nursing mother. Parents should be alerted to loud breathing during sleep, wheezing or night coughing, long intervals between the breaths. The child does not fully sleep, sweats and looks restless during wakefulness.

The most dangerous form of the disease is the obstructive form. The child's face pales, the fingers and lips become cyanotic, the heart rate slows, and muscle tone decreases. Sleep apnea in children requires immediate medical intervention, since it is believed that the disease can lead to a syndrome of sudden child death.

Causes of apnea

The obstructed or impaired patency of the upper respiratory tract leads to a condition called apnea physicians. Most often, people with overweight or any inflammation of the respiratory tract suffer from the disease. The causes of sleep apnea may be different:

• Obesity, especially cases where significant deposits of fat are located on the neck.
• Neurological disorders that cause the brain to "forget" how to breathe in a dream.
• Curvature of the nasal septum, as well as other anomalies in the structure of the respiratory tract.
• Harmful habits, such as smoking, alcohol abuse or taking drugs.
• An uncomfortable position during sleep.
• Age changes associated with deterioration of muscle tone.

Than it is dangerous apnea

Hypoxia is the main danger that sleep apnea threatens. Reduction of the oxygen level to the minimum level leads to the fact that the person calms down, the skin turns blue, and a signal comes to the brain that it is necessary to wake up. Upon awakening, a person inhales oxygen, thereby restoring the disturbed breathing. This state of affairs can not be called normal. A person does not get enough sleep chronically, unable to immerse himself in a much needed deep sleep. This leads to constant stress, disturbances in the work of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. In this regard, the level of injuries in production and in everyday life increases.

Often, patients with sleep apnea syndrome increase morning pressure, violates the heart rhythm, which leads to the development of ischemia, stroke, atherosclerosis. On the background of apnea, the condition of patients suffering from chronic diseases, for example, lung pathologies, worsens. As a significant side effect can be noted and the suffering of relatives who are forced not to fall asleep next to a regularly snoring person.

Diagnosis of apnea

To determine the degree of severity of the problem, the relatives of the patient play an important role, who by the method of V. I. Rovinsky mark the duration of respiratory pauses and their number by the stopwatch. The doctor determines the body mass index of the patient upon examination. It is dangerous if the UTI is higher than 35. In this case, a diagnosis of obesity of the second degree is made. The volume of the neck in the norm should not exceed 40 cm in women and 43 cm in men. A pressure reading above 140/90 may also indicate a problem.

In case of diagnosis, it is mandatory to consult an otolaryngologist. At this stage, health problems such as curvature of the nasal septum, polyps, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis and rhinitis are identified. Polysomnographic study allows recording all electrical potentials, respiratory activity, quantity, and duration of attacks during sleep. In some cases, suffocation in a dream is not an apnea. Breathing when crying with certain disturbances may indicate asthma or other health problems.

Degree of severity of the disease

In order to determine the severity of sleep apnea, it is necessary to calculate the average number of bouts of breath stopping per hour. Up to five episodes - there is no problem, up to 15 - mild syndrome, up to 30 - middle degree. Over 30 seizures are considered a serious form of the disease, requiring immediate medical attention. The method of treatment is determined by the doctor on the basis of the patient's state of health, and traditional medicine becomes an aid, helping to get rid of the problem faster.

Treatment

The treatment of apnea always consists in eliminating the cause, the problem that caused it. Adenoids and tonsils are removed surgically, a curved nasal septum is also normalized, allowing a person to fully breathe. People who are obese are prescribed treatment that allows them to normalize their weight. Reducing the weight by only 5 kilograms in many cases helps to get rid of the problem. With neurological diseases, medication is required. Assign and stimulant breathing drugs, for example, "Theophylline" or "Acetazolamide."

If the cause of sleep apnea is a flabby sky, then to strengthen it, as well as to change the configuration, the radio wave method helps. Local anesthesia, lack of a long rehabilitation period and high efficiency made the method the most popular today. The operation lasts only 20 minutes, an hour later the patient leaves home, and the next night he spends an apnea without the usual agonizing attacks. Such treatments as liquid nitrogen or laser are also popular and effective. But the healing of the sky after manipulation is slower, causing a person a little discomfort.

In severe cases, the use of CIPAP-therapy. A special device, which is a mask connected to a pressure device, is put on the patient's nose before going to bed. The pressure is selected in such a way that the person can breathe easily and comfortably. Less popular are treatments for apnea, such as jaw retainers and nasal passages that increase the nasal passages, glue strips, cushions that cause a person to sleep solely in the "on the side" position.

Traditional methods of treatment

Alternative medicine offers many options for getting rid of apnea. Simple and affordable recipes will be able to sleep a great help to the traditional treatment of the disease.

• To moisten the mucous membranes of the throat and nose before going to bed, wash the nose with salt water, which is poured into the palm of your hand, pulled in by your nose and immediately blows your nose. To prepare the mixture, you must dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in a glass of warm water.
• Cabbage juice has also been used for a long time in the treatment of apnea. A teaspoon of honey is added to a glass of freshly squeezed juice. Drink should be consumed within a month before bedtime.
• To adjust the nasal breathing will help the healing sea-buckthorn oil. It is enough for several weeks before bedtime to dig in each nostril for 5 drops of oil. This method helps to remove inflammation from the tissues of the nasopharynx, has a healing effect, restores blood circulation.
• Its effectiveness in the treatment of snoring has proven carrots. It is necessary to eat one baked root vegetable three times a day before meals.

• Yoga can also be used as a treatment for apnea. Simple exercises, performed 30 times in the morning and at bedtime, will help to forget about the attacks of the disease. Pull the tongue forward, while lowering to the chin. Hold the tongue in this position for two seconds. Press the hand on the chin and move the jaw forward and back, applying a certain effort.
• The simplest and most pleasant way to treat mild or moderate forms of apnea is singing. Simply sing daily for half an hour, strengthening the muscles of the pharynx. This method is really effective.

Such treatment of sleep apnea with folk remedies will help to cope with the problem provided all the recommendations of the doctor are followed and subsequent preventive measures.

Prevention of the syndrome

People with overweight need to re-evaluate their diet and lose weight. Smoking and alcohol are also among the main causes leading to apnea. Rejection of these bad habits in many cases helps to get rid of the problem forever. Toning drinks, including a cup of favorite coffee in the afternoon, can also lead to the development of sleep apnea. It is enough to limit the reception of such beverages to a reasonable minimum.

A hard mattress and a low pillow will facilitate breathing during sleep. Teach yourself to sleep on your stomach. This will help avoid relapse of sleep apnea. Hiking before bed, soothing baths, massage is a good prevention of the problem, preventing full sleep and leading to many health problems.