Respiratory sleeping problems

Symptoms and causes

What is it?

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Nasal syndrome (OSAS) is the most common condition (2-4%) in the population. With this syndrome, the airway closes during sleep because of the slackening of the pharyngeal muscles. OSAS is almost always accompanied by snoring, which often results in the partner noticing pauses in breathing.

Symptoms

The symptoms at night are:

waking up to a feeling of suffocation
problems sleeping through the night
night sweats
frequently getting up to urinate
headache upon waking

The symptoms during the day are:

sleepiness
concentration and memory issues
behavioural changes
sexual problems

Risk factors

The most common risk factors with respiratory sleeping problems are:

cardiovascular diseases
diabetes
obesity

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis

Patients in whom sleep apnoea is suspected based on their reported symptoms usually first see a pneumologist.

In most cases, an in-lab sleep study will be recommended.

Treatment

Obstructive sleep anea syndrome (OSAS) can be treated in various ways.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is due to a narrow airway. This can be caused by an unfavourable jaw anatomy, pronounced tonsil hypertrophy or being overweight. In 70% of patients, several factors play a role in OSAS.

For moderate-to-severe OSAS, a CPAP (continuous postiive airpressure machine) is the gold standard. In case of lighter forms, you will be referred for additional testing.

Depending on where the problem is located, different treatments will be proposed: