Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder where breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. There are three main types - obstructive, central, and complex. Risk factors include being overweight, having a narrow throat, and certain facial structures. Symptoms include loud snoring, waking with shortness of breath, and daytime sleepiness. Diagnosis involves a physical exam and polysomnogram sleep test. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, CPAP devices, dental devices, and sometimes surgery. Losing weight and avoiding alcohol can help prevent sleep apnea.

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UNIVERSIDAD TECNICA DE MACHALA
ACADEMIC UNIT OF CHEMICAL
SCIENCES AND HEALTH
MEDICINE SCHOOL
ENGLISH
SLEEP APNEA
STUDENTS
William Cruz
Kevin Herrera
TEACHER:
Mgs. Barreto Huilcapi Lina Maribel
CLASS:
EIGHTH SEMESTER ‘’A’’
Machala, El Oro
2018

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Sleep Apnea
Definition
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder, in which breathing stops and starts
again and again. You may suffer from sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you feel
tired even after a full night of sleep.
The main types of sleep apnea are the following:
 Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, which occurs when the
muscles of the throat relax.
 Central sleep apnea, which occurs when the brain does not send correct
signals to the muscles that control breathing.
 Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also called "central apnea of emergent
sleep", which occurs when someone suffers from obstructive sleep apnea and
central sleep apnea.

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Etiology
When you sleep, all the muscles of the body relax more. This includes the muscles
that help keep the throat open so that air can flow into the lungs.
Normally, the throat remains sufficiently open during sleep to allow air passage.
Some people have a narrower throat. When the muscles in the upper part of the throat
relax during sleep, the tissues close and block the airway. This arrest of breathing is
called apnea.
Harsh snoring is a warning sign of AOS. Snoring is caused by air that drains through
the narrowed or blocked airway. Although not all people who snore suffer from sleep
apnea.
Other factors can also increase the risk:
 A lower jaw that is short compared to the maxilla
 Certain forms of the roof of the mouth (palate) or the airway that cause the
latter to collapse more easily
 Neck or large collar, 17 inches (43 cm) or more in men and 16 inches (41 cm)
or more in women
 Large tongue that can retract and block the airway
 Obesity
 Tonsils and large adenoids that can block the airway
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea coincide,
making it more difficult to determine the type of apnea. Some of the most frequent
signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea are:
 Strong snoring, which is usually more prominent in obstructive sleep apnea
 Episodes of cessation of breathing during sleep that is witnessed by another
person

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 Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, which probably
indicates central sleep apnea
 Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
 Headache in the morning
 Difficulty to stay asleep (insomnia)
 Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
 Attention problems
 Irritability
Diagnosis
The physical examination is:
 It will check your mouth, neck and throat.
 You may be asked about daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and bedtime
habits.
 You may need a polysomnogram to confirm OSA. This test can be done at
home or in a sleep laboratory.
Other tests that may be carried out include:
 Arterial blood gases
 Electrocardiography (ECG)
 Echocardiography
 Studies of thyroid function
Treatment
The treatment helps keep the airway open while you sleep so that your breathing does
not stop.
Lifestyle changes can relieve symptoms in people with mild sleep apnea, such as:
 Avoid alcohol or sleeping pills before bedtime (may worsen symptoms)
 Avoid sleeping on your back
 Lose excess weight

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Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices work best for the treatment of
obstructive sleep apnea in most people.
You put a mask on your nose or on your nose and mouth while you sleep.
The mask is connected by means of a hose to a small machine that stays next to your
bed.
The machine pumps air under pressure through the hose and the mask into the
airways while you sleep. This helps keep the airway open.
It may take some time to get used to sleeping with CPAP therapy. Good control and
support of a sleep center can help overcome any problem in the use of CPAP.
Dental devices can help some people. You put them in your mouth while you sleep to
keep the jaw forward and the airway open.
Other treatments may be available, but there is little evidence that they work. It is best
to talk to a doctor who specializes in sleep problems before trying them.
Surgery may be an option for some people. It is often a last resort if other treatments
did not work and you have severe symptoms. The surgery can be used to:
 Remove extra tissue in the back of the throat.
 Correct problems of the structures of the face.
 Create an opening in the trachea to bypass blocked airways if there are
physical problems.
 Remove the tonsils and adenoids.
 Surgery may not completely cure obstructive sleep apnea and may have long-
term side effects.
Prevention
The prevention of sleep apnea is not always possible, although the different measures
of lifestyle changes can help: avoid alcohol, do not take sleeping pills, lose weight
and avoid obesity.

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Bibliography
 American Academy of Sleep Medicine. International classification of sleep
disorders. Diagnostic and coding manual. 2nd ed. Westchester, Illinois:
American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2005: 51.
 Iber C, Ancoli-Israel S, Chesson A, Quan SF for the American Academy of
Sleep Medicine. The AASM manual for the scoring of sleep and associated
events: rules, terminology and technical specifications. Westchester, Illinois:
American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2007
 Ohayon MM, Guilleminault C, Priest RG, Caulet M. Snoring and breathing
pauses during sleep: telephone interview surrey of a United Kingdom
population sample. BMJ 1997; 314: 860-863