I. What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a disease in which breathing stops repeatedly and briefly during sleep. There are two forms of sleep apnea, namely “obstructive sleep apnea” and “central sleep apnea”. Obstructive sleep apnea refers to apnea caused by narrowing or occlusion of the pharynx; central sleep apnea refers to apnea caused by a brain dysfunction that does not send instructions to the respiratory muscles for breathing movements. What we usually call sleep apnea usually refers to obstructive sleep apnea, as this form of sleep apnea’s is the most common. Because it occurs during sleep, the apnea is usually unnoticeable to the person themselves, and sometimes they may wake up suffocating. Snoring can be heard by bedmates or people living in the same room. 2. What are the clinical manifestations of sleep apnea? 1. The main clinical manifestations of sleep apnea include loud snoring, fatigue, daytime drowsiness, etc. In addition, they include: 2. tossing and turning during sleep and hyperactivity (without your knowledge); 3. being suffocated during sleep; 4. waking up with headache, dry mouth and sore throat; 5. increased nocturnal urination; 6. not relieved after waking up even with sufficient sleep time; 7. inability to think clearly during the day and memory loss; 8. In some patients with sleep apnea, the symptoms may not be obvious, and in addition, a considerable number of people mistakenly believe that fatigue or loud snoring is normal. III. Do I need to see a doctor? If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, you have to see a doctor, preferably a doctor who specializes in sleep medicine. IV. Is there any test to confirm the diagnosis of sleep apnea? Yes. The doctor will decide if a test is needed depending on the situation. The common test is called “polysomnography”, or PSG, which is usually performed in a specialized sleep laboratory with many leads connected to the body, and can record a variety of physiological parameters during sleep, such as brain waves, eye movements, electromyography, oral and nasal airflow, chest and abdominal movements, oxygen saturation and so on. Based on these parameters, we can know: the presence of sleep apnea, the form of sleep apnea (obstructive or central), the severity, etc. There are also easy or portable monitoring methods that can be performed at home, but they are not as accurate as the standard PSG. V. What can patients do themselves to improve their sleep apnea? The following methods may be useful: 1. Avoid sleeping in the supine position (this is not always useful because it is difficult to control the position during sleep and only some people can reduce sleep apnea through position control); 2. If you are overweight, losing weight can reduce sleep apnea; 3. Avoid drinking alcohol because it can aggravate sleep apnea. Six, sleep apnea how to treat? The most effective treatment is to use an apparatus or device to keep the airway open during sleep. This treatment is called “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure” (CPAP for short) and requires a mask to be worn during sleep to help the patient breathe smoothly. CPAP therapy may seem uncomfortable, but in the end it provides the best results, waking up feeling energized, losing daytime sleepiness, thinking clearly, and having good memory. Not only that, but CPAP therapy can also improve other problems associated with sleep apnea, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. There is also oral corrector therapy, an apparatus that can also help keep your airway open during sleep. In a small number of patients, your doctor may recommend surgical treatment if multiple modalities have failed. It is important to note that surgical treatment is not always effective; in some patients it works at first, but the condition may recur after several years. Is sleep apnea dangerous? There are risks. Sleep apnea leads to decreased sleep quality, daytime fatigue and drowsiness or decreased alertness, and a much higher probability of being involved in a car accident while driving. Numerous studies have confirmed that sleep apnea increases the incidence of hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and may even lead to sudden death at night. Appropriate treatment, such as CPAP therapy, can effectively prevent the occurrence of these complications.