Sleep apnea syndrome (Sleep Apnea Syndrome, SAS) is a common sleep disorder, which is characterized by recurrent apnea or hypopnea during sleep, resulting in decreased sleep quality, daytime fatigue, sleepiness and other symptoms. The following is a detailed description of the diagnosis and treatment of the disease:
1. Diagnosis
Related symptoms:
Nighttime symptoms: repeated snoring, apnea, suffocation, expiratory dyspnoea, etc.
Daytime symptoms: fatigue, lethargy, headache, memory loss, lack of concentration, etc.
Medical history:
Inquire about the patient’s living habits, sleep, symptoms, etc., to understand the basic situation of the patient.
Note whether the patient has a history of chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, and adenoid hypertrophy, which may increase the risk of sleep apnea syndrome.
Physical examination:
Carry out a comprehensive physical examination
on the patient, especially on the throat, oral cavity, nasal cavity, neck and other parts to understand the patient’s respiratory tract.
Sleep monitoring:
Sleep monitoring equipment such
as polysomnography (PSG) was used to record the sleep status of patients, including the number and time of apnea, hypopnea, snoring and other phenomena, as well as oxygen saturation and other indicators.
Sleep monitoring is an important way to diagnose sleep apnea syndrome, which can help doctors judge the severity of the disease.
Blood tests:
Poor
breathing may cause chronic hypoxia, resulting in an increase in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
Blood tests can be used to determine whether patients have chronic hypoxia, thus assisting in the diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome.
2. Treatment
Non-surgical treatment:
CPAP therapy: CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy is one of the most effective treatments for SAS. By wearing a mask, continuous positive pressure airflow is given to keep the airway open and prevent the occurrence of apnea and hypopnea. CPAP therapy requires the use of equipment such as air compressors and filters, which generally need to be adjusted and adapted in hospitals.
Oral appliance: For patients with mild and moderate sleep apnea. Oral appliances are worn in the mouth during sleep to change the position of the base of the tongue and soft palate, thus preventing airway obstruction. However, this method is not suitable for the elderly and patients with loose teeth and oral diseases.
Medication: Medication can relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea, but it does not cure the disease. Commonly used drugs include antihistamines, steroids, diuretics and so on, which need to be used under the guidance of doctors.
Lifestyle adjustments include weight loss, sleeping in the lateral position, avoiding alcohol and taking sedative drugs. These measures can help reduce airway obstruction and improve sleep quality.
Surgical treatment:
Surgical treatment is suitable for patients with sleep apnea syndrome who fail to respond to drug treatment. Surgical methods include laser therapy, radiofrequency therapy and open surgery.
Laser therapy and radiofrequency therapy can shrink the tissue and expand the respiratory tract through thermal effect, so as to achieve the purpose of treatment.
Open surgery can cure sleep apnea syndrome by removing or moving tissue in the throat or nasal cavity to enlarge the respiratory tract. However, surgical treatment has certain risks and needs to be carried out under the guidance of doctors.
To sum up, the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea syndrome requires a variety of examinations and treatments. Doctors will formulate reasonable diagnosis and treatment plans according to the specific conditions of patients in order to alleviate symptoms, improve sleep quality and prevent complications. At the same time, patients should also actively cooperate with the doctor’s treatment recommendations, improve living habits and improve the quality of life.
