Sleep apnea can lead to suffocation and sudden death.

Media reports that internationally renowned director Ang Lee is suspected of suffering from sleep apnea have brought this modern-day ailment back into the spotlight, and the proportion of patients seeking treatment at outpatient clinics has indeed been increasing year by year, demonstrating the growing impact of this disease on people's quality of life.

Obstructive sleep apnea refers to the repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, which blocks the airway, causing shallow and labored breathing and reducing blood oxygen levels. In severe cases, it can completely block the airway, leading to suffocation or even sudden death.
There are many causes of airway narrowing, including a small or receding chin, excessively large tonsils or uvula, congenital craniofacial defects, nasal congestion caused by a deviated septum or hypertrophic turbinates, nasopharyngeal obstruction caused by adenoid hyperplasia in children, and loose throat muscles and obesity in the elderly.

Loud snoring is the most common

Although the most common symptom of sleep apnea is loud snoring during sleep, snoring does not necessarily cause breathing cessation. The sound of snoring is mainly due to the relaxation of the body's muscles during sleep, and the soft palate and uvula do not have enough tension to maintain smooth airflow in the airway. Therefore, when breathing, the airflow through the oropharynx causes the soft palate and uvula to vibrate, producing an annoying sound. Therefore, people who suspect they have symptoms of sleep apnea are advised to undergo a multifunctional sleep apnea test to determine whether it is simply snoring or they actually have sleep apnea.

Record changes in blood oxygen concentration

The "Multifunctional Sleep Apnea Test" analyzes the quality of sleep throughout the night using brainwaves to determine whether one is in a prolonged period of light sleep where they cannot rest. It can also record changes in blood oxygen concentration during sleep and finally differentiate the severity of sleep apnea based on changes in blood oxygen concentration, allowing doctors to assess what treatment methods should be used in the next stage.
Common ways to improve sleep apnea include weight loss, quitting smoking and alcohol, and sleeping on your side.

Surgery based on the location of the obstruction

Since sleep apnea involves multiple structural issues, the surgical approach will depend on the location of the obstruction. If nasal congestion occurs during sleep, nasal passage repair surgery can be performed; if there is narrowing of the oropharynx and enlarged tonsils, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty can be performed; if the soft palate is too long or too soft, an anti-snoring brace can be used; if the tongue is too large or too soft, partial tongue root resection or tongue root suspension surgery can be considered. It is recommended that all of the above methods be determined by a professional physician through clinical assessment in order to effectively resolve the problem of sleep apnea.

Author

Taipei Veterans General Hospital Hsinchu Branch Asia University Affiliated Hospital

Attending Physician Zhang Yihao, Attending Physician Chen Liangyu, Department of Otolaryngology

News Source:Apple Daily