Bappi Lahiri, the legendary singer-composer, died on Tuesday night in a Mumbai hospital from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). He had been admitted to the hospital for a month due to a variety of health problems. His death, which was caused by OSA, has highlighted the dangers of one of the most frequent sleep-related breathing diseases. If left untreated, it can lead to major health problems such as high blood pressure and cardiac problems.
Obstructive, central, and complicated sleep apnea are the three forms of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most frequent of these, and it occurs when something restricts part or all of your upper airway while you sleep, resulting in loud snoring and fatigue during the day. OSA can affect anyone, even children, however it is more prevalent among overweight elderly men. There are a few frequent signs and symptoms, and most treatments are non-invasive.
Normally, air should flow from the mouth and nose into the lungs at all times, including during sleep. The time periods when breathing stops are called apnea or apneic episodes. In OSA, the normal flow of air is repeatedly stopped, causing breathing to repeatedly stop and start while we sleep. This disorder occurs when the muscles supporting the soft tissues in the throat, such as the tongue, relax.
Symptoms:
- Loud snoring
- Restlessness during sleep
- Waking up suddenly gasping, choking
- Trouble getting up in the morning
- Daytime sleepiness
- Breathing interruption during sleep
- Night sweats
- Morning headaches
- As a result of these issues, people may repeatedly wake up during the night, experience morning headaches, forgetfulness and drowsiness, and feel disgruntled or grumpy.
Risk Factors:
Being overweight: Most people with this disorder are overweight.
2. Old age and diabetes: With age, the chances of diabetes and this order occurring can increase. But it appears to level off after the 60s and 70s.
3. Narrow airways: A person with naturally inherited narrow airwaves can also experience this disorder. It can even occur if your tonsils or adenoids swell and block the airway.
4. High blood pressure: People with hypertension commonly experience obstructive sleep apnea. Those who have consistent nasal congestion are twice as likely to have OSA than others.
5. Smoking: People who smoke are more likely to have it.
Complications:
Obstructive sleep apnea can be life threatening if left untreated. It can trigger chronic illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, etc. Sleep apnea can lead to other complications that include:
- Sleepiness during the day and trouble concentrating.
- Heart related problems such as heart attack, high blood pressure, unusual heart rhythms, or stroke
- Diabetes
- Eye problems such as glaucoma and dry eye
- Problems with pregnancy like gestational diabetes or low-birth-weight babies
- Complications after surgery
Treatment:
Losing weight – Doctors usually advise weight management to people with OSA.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) – This device is one of the most common treatments for OSA. It is administered through a face mask worn at night. An air blower forces constant air through the nose or mouth and the pressure is just enough to keep the upper airway tissues from relaxing too much when alseep.
Bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) – If CPAP is not found to be effective, then this therapy is advised. BPAP machines have settings that deliver two pressures in response to your breathing to ease any obstruction in
Sleep on your side– Sleeping on the back can make OSA worse, so it is sometimes advised that people with mild sleep apnea try to learn to sleep on their side.
Surgery– If the above two therapies don’t work, you should consult a doctor about surgical remedies.
