Ear Nose and Throat Specialist Assoc. Dr. Kasım Durmuş said that if timely and necessary precautions are not taken, sleep apnea will cause carelessness and increase the risk of traffic accidents by 2-7 times and gave information. Assoc. Dr. Durmuş said that if timely and necessary precautions are not taken, sleep apnea will cause carelessness and increase the risk of traffic accidents by 2-7 times.
“It is the second most common after insomnia”
Medicana Sivas Hospital Otorhinolaryngology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Kasım Durmuş, stating that sleep apnea is the second most common disease after insomnia, said, “Sleep apnea, which we can define as respiratory arrest during sleep; It is a sleeping sickness that we have heard frequently lately. It is the second most common after insomnia, which we know as insomnia. Sleep apnea is defined as snoring and not being able to breathe for at least 10 seconds as a result of obstruction of the airway by the base of the tongue, soft palate or overgrown tonsils. If timely and necessary precautions are not taken, sleep apnea causes carelessness and increases the risk of traffic accidents 6-7 times. It also causes learning difficulties and an increase in the frequency of occupational accidents.
“Partner will complain”
Stating that only snoring without sleep apnea will not cause a problem for the patient, but his partner may complain about this situation, Durmuş continued as follows:
“However, if it is accompanied by sleep apnea, it is a serious health problem. The incidence of sleep apnea in Turkey varies between 2 and 4 percent. This shows us that sleep apnea is a common health problem. At the same time, the incidence of sleep apnea syndrome is increasing with the increase in the incidence of obesity.
“If more than five breathing stops during the test, sleep apnea is diagnosed”
Explaining the symptoms of sleep apnea, Durmuş said, “Daytime sleepiness (drowsiness even while driving while talking in severe patients), restlessness at night, snoring, headaches especially in the morning, forgetfulness, lack of attention, frequent urination, sweating and witnessed respiratory arrest. . Patients with complaints should definitely see a doctor and the diagnosis is made with a sleep test (polysomnography). If more than five breathing stops during the test, sleep apnea is diagnosed.
“The treatment varies according to the level of the disease”
Mentioning that the treatment of sleep apnea varies according to the level of the disease, Durmuş said, “The treatment of sleep apnea varies according to the level of the disease. General measures vary, including positive air pressure, intraoral appliances, and surgical treatments. Excess weight, if any, should be removed from treatment planning. It is not possible to lose weight only with diet, it is necessary to increase daily activities and make this lifestyle routine. In patients with normal weight, more emphasis should be placed on a skeletal system pathology. Snoring complaints and sleep apnea are more severe in patients who use alcohol, cigarettes and sedative drugs. Patients should be advised not to use alcohol and cigarettes as much as possible and to stay away from drugs with sedative effects.
When is surgical treatment done?
Durmuş gave information about when the surgical treatment of sleep apnea should be performed and said, “In patients with severe sleep apnea, oxygen saturation is below 90 percent, daytime sleepiness affects daily life, significant arrhythmia, a significant anatomical problem in the patient is an obstacle to performing the surgery. The absence of a medical problem that will cause surgical treatment is the situation that should be treated.” he said.