Sleep disordered breathing is increasingly recognized as a disorder that poses as a risk amongst younger adults and the elderly. It contributes to poor concentration, excessive day time sleepiness, lack of productivity and uncontrolled blood pressure, weight gain with insulin resistance and poses as a significant risk factor for other co morbidities. All these have bitter consequences on the day to day life. But the fact remains most sleep apneas go undetected and if treated aptly these patients can jump back to a better life and greater control of the problem.
It involves subjecting the patient to a sleep study or polysomnography where your sleep is monitored for a minimum of 6 hours and then determining how many times your oxygen levels go down at night.
The therapy for the same involves life style modifications, weight loss, devices that make your sleep comfortable and many other modalities which are tailor-made for specific problems causing the sleep apnea.
