If hepatitis is incurable, it may be due to obstructive sleep apnea!

Author: Advertising Planning & Production 2015-11-26

Xiao Zhang was always sleep-deprived, extremely tired, snored during sleep, and had mild symptoms of high blood pressure. He initially thought it was just a liver problem, but after a period of treatment, his liver enzyme levels remained high. Only after going to the sleep medicine center did he realize that it was obstructive sleep apnea that was causing the problem!

According to statistics,Approximately 450,000 adults in Taiwan suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Most patients also have symptoms of chronic diseases, including 10% patients with hepatitis.者It is difficult for the average person to associate obstructive sleep apnea with chronic diseases. If one can be vigilant and seek treatment early, one can avoid the adverse effects on health and the troubles on life caused by long-term poor sleep quality.

Obstructive sleep apnea is closely related to chronic diseases.

Hang Liang-wen, former president of the Taiwan Sleep Medicine Society, pointed out thatThe biggest danger of obstructive sleep apnea is hypoxia. Once hypoxia occurs, it can lead to systemic problems, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, proteinuria, and even cognitive and behavioral abnormalities.Statistics from abroad indicate that patients with obstructive sleep apnea have a six to seven times higher risk of traffic accidents than normal individuals.

Looking further,Since obstructive sleep apnea is mostly caused by obesity, many people have mistakenly believed that it is closely related to fatty liver disease.However, studies from countries such as Sweden and South Korea have found that...The development of chronic hepatitis may also be related to sleep apnea.Hang Liangwen said: "We also observed from Taiwan's National Health Insurance database that..."People with obstructive sleep apnea have a significantly higher chance of being diagnosed with non-alcoholic hepatitis, with a risk level approximately 2 to 3 times higher.。｣ Clinically, some patients who already had hepatitis B or hepatitis C found that their liver enzyme levels remained high even after treatment. They were only alerted after being transferred to a sleep medicine center, which may be related to obstructive sleep apnea.

Hang Liang-wen, former president of the Taiwan Sleep Medicine Society

Early detection and treatment are key.

Hang Liangwen himself is also a patient with obstructive sleep apnea. A few years ago, he not only snored, but also had a history of high blood pressure and obesity. After receiving active treatment, in addition to taking medication to control blood pressure, wearing a machine to maintain blood oxygenation while sleeping, and insisting on weight loss, the results of the multi-pronged approach not only helped him lose more than 20 kilograms, but also changed his original irritable temper.

He pointed out thatFor patients with obstructive sleep apnea, snoring is the most typical symptom. However, in addition to snoring, these patients will suddenly stop breathing for more than 10 seconds in the middle of the night. In severe cases, they may stop breathing 30 times in an hour, which is also the clinical standard for judging sleep apnea.

Generally, patients with obstructive sleep apnea are not aware of it themselves, and most are unwilling to seek medical attention due to the hassle, which may endanger their health in the long run. Hang Liangwen pointed out that the simplest self-diagnosis method currently available is the internationally certified Berlin Questionnaire, which is not only time-saving and labor-saving, but also has a sensitivity of over 80%, and people can quickly perform self-tests online.

Furthermore, Hang Liangwen also reminded that obstructive sleep apnea most commonly occurs between the ages of 40 and 50. This group is also the backbone of stable society and family finances. However, because patients themselves are not easily aware of it, it is usually discovered by their partner through observation. Therefore, if you find that your partner has related symptoms, such as high blood pressure at a young age, obesity, irritability, frequent complaints of headaches, and long-term snoring, or persistent fatigue without a clear cause, you should be alert to the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea and seek early detection and treatment to avoid the harm of this chronic disease.

News Source:CommonWealth Magazine