Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Last Updated: 5 March 2025
Proper sleep hygiene is essential for improving the quality of rest and, consequently, the quality of life. Sleep allows us to regenerate physically and mentally, but in an increasingly hectic routine, stress and commitments tend to reduce the time dedicated to rest. For this reason, it becomes crucial to make conscious choices, especially in the evening and nighttime hours. How can we promote good sleep? By creating a comfortable environment with appropriate temperature, lighting, and colors, and choosing a bed and pillow suited to one's needs. It is also important to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and heavy foods at dinner, as well as the use of electronic devices and television before sleep.
However, sometimes healthy habits are not enough: poor sleep quality can be due to underlying physical conditions, signaling health problems or disorders. One of the main enemies of rest is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Snoring is not just an inconvenience for those sleeping nearby, but it can be a warning sign that should not be ignored.
OSAS is a respiratory disorder caused by the collapse of the throat walls, which temporarily blocks the airflow and interrupts breathing. In addition to fragmenting the sleep cycle, it affects heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases.
Symptoms of OSAS
The main symptoms of OSAS are:
- Dry mouth (xerostomia).
- Headaches.
- Cognitive deficits such as memory problems or poor concentration.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS).
- Shortness of breath.
- Frequent awakenings with a feeling of suffocation.
- Snoring, restless sleep, feeling of not having rested well.
Causes of OSAS
It may be thought that they are due to a nasal problem, but snoring (or snoring disease) and sleep apnea can have different origins and causes.
Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome include:
- Alcoholic beverage abuse.
- Anatomical abnormalities (nasal septum deviation, hypertrophied adenoids and tonsils).
- Taking sleeping pills.
- Age.
- Familiarity.
- Smoking.
- Hypertension.
- Soft tissue laxity of the first airways.
- Post-menopausal syndrome.
- Overweight and obesity.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The expert to turn to for a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is an otorhinolaryngologist specialising in sleep disorders.
Based on the patient's medical history and symptoms, the specialist may consider performing an in-depth diagnostic examination, such as polysomnography, considered the gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea. It is an examination that records several variables during sleep, such as chest and abdominal movement, brain activity, nasal and oral airflow, blood oxygenation and other physiological measurements. Endoscopy can also be used to assess the anatomy of the upper airway and detect obstructions.
The therapeutic approach for this disorder is often multidisciplinary and may involve a pulmonologist, neurologist, cardiologist, dentist, and nutritionist in cases of obesity. If the apneas depend on an overweight or obese condition, for example, the first intervention may be nutritional.
A common treatment is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, in which a mask with continuous air ventilation applied over the nose and/or mouth during sleep keeps the airways open and limits the number of apneas.
Other treatment options include positive airway pressure therapies (e.g. BiPAP), dental devices and positional therapies.
Surgery is an option for patients who do not respond to other treatments or who have specific anatomical abnormalities that can only be corrected surgically.
Consult the Otolaryngology services at UPMC Salvator Mundi International Hospital.