The Increasing risk of obstructive sleep apnea in India
The Increasing risk of obstructive sleep apnea in India
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes breathing difficulties when you are asleep. It is one of the most common sleep-related breathing disorders.
Sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles become overly relaxed and disrupt a person's breathing involuntarily. This leads to repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, resulting in irregular and poor quality sleep.
Sleep Apnea: A Rising Problem In India
The number of sleep apnea cases is increasing globally and in India as well. According to the recent data from the Economic Times, there are more than 900 million people around the world who suffer from sleep apnea. In India alone, there are more than 50 million people with sleep apnea. However, diseases like sleep apnea are relatively unknown across Asia and in India.
The prevalence of sleep apnea is higher in the western region of India as compared to other parts of the country. Sleep apnea is more common among men than in women. Weight gain and menopause also appear to increase the risk of sleep apnea in women.
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea causes hypoxia, which is when there are low oxygen levels in the body. It robs your body of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level. Hypoxia can affect the whole body or affect a specific part of the body. Hypoxia triggers a fight-or-flight response in your body, which increases the heartbeat and narrows your arteries. Over time, this has long term negative consequences for your health.
The following effects are observed in the heart and vascular system:
Higher blood pressure
Higher heart rate
High inflammation and stress
Higher blood volume
Coronary Artery Disease
These effects further increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
According to a 2010 study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, sleep apnea can increase the risk of stroke by two or three times.
You are most likely to develop CVD:
Older than 60 years of age
Have at least 20 apnea episodes per hour of sleep
During sleep, the blood oxygen level is less than 78%.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Here are the most common symptoms in people with sleep apnea:
Loud snoring
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Morning headache
Mood changes like depression or irritability
High blood pressure
Abrupt waking up accompanied by gasping or choking
Having a dry mouth or a sore throat when you wake up
Difficulty concentrating during the day
Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Treating your sleep apnea requires keeping the airway open during sleep. Medical devices like a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) treat sleep apnea by keeping the airways open and preventing them from collapsing while sleeping.
Other remedies for sleep apnea include:
Losing extra weight
Quitting tobacco smoking
Avoiding alcohol
Keeping away from sleeping pills
Changing your sleep position
Refraining from sedatives and tranquilizer
Exercising more
Sanrai offers a wide range of CPAP devices at an affordable price. We offer a number of reliable, premium quality CPAP machines from trusted brands around the globe. Our CPAP devices automatically adjust the pressure to meet your individual needs.
