Obstructive sleep apnea presents as repeated attacks of suffocation during sleep. People with undiagnosed sleep apnea often think they don't have a sleep problem because they can sleep anytime, anywhere. The repeated closures trigger alarms in the body that disrupt their sleep, but also save their lives.
Symptoms during sleep include irregular snoring with interruptions of up to 30-40 seconds or longer, restless movements, sweating, possible awakenings with palpitations and shortness of breath. It also causes problems during the daytime with symptoms such as morning headaches, fatigue, depression, increased irritability and decreased sex drive.
The diagnosis of sleep apnea can be made after a one-night outpatient examination called a Cardio Respiratory Monitoring (CRM), where you sleep at home with recording equipment. The next day, the recording is analyzed and CPAP treatment is started immediately afterwards.
CPAP therapy consists of a small air pump that blows regular air through a mask into the nose and airways. The airflow creates a small positive pressure that keeps the throat open and the airway clear. When normal breathing is created, the patient will also achieve normal sleep quality, which will have a large and positive effect on the patient's well-being and energy in everyday life.