SLEEP LAB

What is Sleep? And Why Is It Important?

Sleep; our body, which is worn during the day, takes a break from the daily life; It is the restructuring of the physical and mental state, thanks to its biological and chemical functions during the night.

One third of our lives go to sleep. Thanks to sleep, the body rests and renews itself.

What Are Sleep Disorders?

• More than 80 different sleep and waking problems are negatively affecting the quality of life of many people.
• The most common sleep diseases; sleepy breathing (sleep apnea) is excessive daytime sleepiness, falling asleep, restless leg syndrome and snoring.
• There are sleep problems in 12-45% of the society.

What is Sleep Apnea?

It is called apnea to stop the air flow for at least 10 seconds at the level of mouth and nose during sleep.
In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, despite the abdominal and chest respiratory effort, the air flow from the mouth and nose is interrupted. So there is breathing effort, there is no air flow. After the apnea period, the patient starts breathing and snoring again with a noisy breathing and body movement similar to fluttering. There is no breathing effort and air flow in the central sleep apnea. In mixed sleep apnea, it is the absence of effort of the left side and the air flow is interrupted, and the air flow from the mouth and nose does not start despite the start of respiratory effort.

Snoring soft palate is the sound caused by the vibration caused by the pressure change of the small tongue, tongue root and surrounding tissues and the restriction of air flow. At least 45% of normal adult people occasionally snore. Snoring is the most prominent complaint of OSA and is generally seen in all patients with OSA. However, not every snoring patient is OSA. It is a complaint detected by the bedmate rather than the patient himself.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea syndrome?

• Snoring
• Stopping breathing during sleep (witnessed apnea)
• excessive daytime sleepiness
• Feeling of drowning in sleep
• Atypical chest pain
• Rhythm disturbances in the heart
• heart problems
• Hypertension
• Lung problems
• Headache when awakened
• Decreased ability to make decisions
• Memory impairment, forgetfulness
• Loss of sexual desire
• Spiritual and physical depression
• Psychosis, depression
• Dry mouth
• Night sweats
• Gastro-esophageal reflux

The most important test used in the diagnosis of sleep disorders and OSAS; POLISOMNOGRAPHY.

Tests Performed in the Sleep Center;

• All Night Polysomnography + Respiratory Records
• All Night Polysomnography + Respiration + Leg EMG Records
• All Night Polysomnography + CPAP / BIPAP Titration

Treatment

Diagnosis in OSA and determination of treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach.

1- Medical treatment- General Precautions;
• Overweight is an important factor that worsens obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, an important part of the weight control treatment program.
• It should be preferred to lie on your side instead of sleeping on your back. As an old recommendation, sewing a tennis ball on the back of the pajamas is still a useful method. Thus, snoring and apnea are tried to be reduced by preventing sleeping on the back.
• Co-morbidities are treated.
• Mechanical tools (CPAP, BiPAP, mouth or intranasal tools, etc.) are used.
• CPAP and BIPAP devices that apply positive airway pressure are the most effective among mechanical tools.

2- Surgical treatment
Surgery also plays an important role in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Surgically, attempts are made to bypass or eliminate obstruction.

• Nose surgery: Methods such as turbinate reduction attempts, polypectomy, septum and valve surgery
• Nasopharyngeal surgery: operations such as adenoidectomy
• Soft palate and tonsil surgery
• Tongue root surgery may be required.