Snorers tired: beware of sleep apnea!

Sleep apnea is more common than you think! 4-8% of the population is concerned. And these nocturnal respiratory arrests are a real health threat. Prof. Jean-Louis Racine, Head of Pneumology at the University Hospital of Angers is one of the organizers of the National Day of Sleep Apnea. He makes the point for Doctissimo on this disease that strikes at nightfall.

Sleep apnea is not a problem to overlook. This disorder results in shorter pauses in breathing during the night. In the long run, poor oxygenation of the body leads to heart disease, high blood pressure and even the risk of heart attack. Screening, treatment ... Prof. Jean-Louis Racine answers our questions.

The number of visits for sleep apnea is steadily increasing in recent years. Because the public is better informed and better this disorder diagnosed by physicians. But there are still many patients who are unaware. An estimated 4% of the population suffer from this syndrome, but the exact figure would be closer to 8%. Apnea affects as many people as chronic diseases such as asthma or diabetes! It is therefore necessary to further strengthen public information, and train general practitioners to identify the symptoms. Similarly, we must provide more human and material resources to the services of Respirology, now totally overloaded. For it is in the hospital that will be diagnosed after a full night of sleep recording.

Put simply, if you are a "buzzer tired", you're likely to make sleep apnea without knowing it. Especially if your spouse finds stops breathing during the night. Of course, we must rule out other possible causes of fatigue by consulting their doctor. But the fact that snoring associated with non-restorative sleep are signs that need to think of sleep apnea.

The standard treatment is to wear a mask all night connected to a CPAP device, actually a small compressor that blows air under pressure. This process is generally effective, but many patients have difficulty managing this device binding. Another treatment, more recent, is effective in about 60% of cases: it is the mandibular advancement device. This system is similar to a dental device is placed in the mouth, it allows the jaw to move forward and clear the throat to let in air. Treatment of the soft palate, however, are not effective on sleep apnea. They can possibly make a profit on snoring.

As with any chronic disease, treatment monitoring is problematic. On average, 20 to 25% of patients refuse to start treatment and 20% adjust imperfectly, making it ineffective. This means that almost half of diagnosed patients are untreated ... It is therefore important to offer a personalized approach based on what the patient is ready to go. Therapeutic education is essential, it needs to understand and manage sleep apnea.

Syndromes in 70% of obstructive sleep apnea, there are overweight and 50% of cases of diabetes. The dietary management is essential. If it improves the weight problem, it generally decreases the severity of sleep apnea syndrome. So much so that in some cases the disorder disappears. You should know that being overweight increases cardiovascular risk, themselves already increased by sleep apnea. It is therefore essential to work on both ways.

These days can offer to patients and the general public a wealth of information. And understanding allows patients to better monitor and negotiate their treatment. We must develop the capacity of patients to manage their disease.