Sleep medicine
Definitions
Sleeplessness is one of the most common medical conditions. In Germany, about 20 - 30% of the population suffer from sleep disorders. The share of psychological causes in the total number of sleep disorders is particularly high at 70%.Since the 1970s, great progress has been made in the field of sleep research and new therapeutic options have been developed. Various medical disciplines can be involved in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
The frequent occurrence of breathing interruptions during sleep, with and without an associated waking reaction, is called obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In obstructive apnea, the upper airway is closed for a longer period of time (>10 seconds) and a lack of oxygen in the organism occurs, as well as an unconscious or conscious waking reaction. Patients are often alerted by their bed partners to loud snoring with breathing interruptions. The patients themselves often notice it only through daytime sleepiness, a feeling of exhaustion, concentration problems and/or sleeping episodes during the course of the day. Many patients visit our outpatient department because they suffer greatly from these symptoms. Daytime sleepiness can lead to a considerable restriction in the ability to cope with everyday life, up to and including restrictions in the ability to drive a vehicle. People with OSAS have an increased accident rate in road traffic. Untreated, this disease leads to high blood pressure, cardiac insufficiency and cardiac arrhythmia as well as to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation. The risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack is many times higher as in patients without OSAS. We therefore recommend a rapid diagnosis if OSAS is suspected. In OSAS patients, elevated blood pressure values can occur at night and subsequently during the day, which is often noticed in long-term blood pressure measurements justifies an examination for OSAS.
The following reasons are associated with the development of OSAS:
- Flaccidity and constriction of the pharynx due to disturbances in muscle function and tongue relapse during sleep
- Anatomical variations: Large uvula, enlargement of the base of the tongue large palatal tonsils, deviation of the nasal septum
- Overweight
- Comorbidities: Allergies, thyroid diseases, neuromuscular diseases
- Alcohol consumption and medication