The medico-social aspects of snoring and the sleep apnea syndrom
20 to 30% of the men and 15% of the women
Fatigue and diurnal sleepiness
This sleep is then little refreshing
The sleep apnea syndrome is therefore a serious pathology
An over mortality of 11% for a 5-year period
For a population of adults over 40, it is estimated that 20 to 30% of the men and 15% of the women usually snore. The noise produced by these snores is often loud and can reach 85 or perhaps 100 decibels.
As a consequence, it is easily understandable that this trouble is the source of numerous problems.
As a matter of fact, snoring brings social discomfort to the snoring person's close relations. It can be a real handicap ant it is sometimes ill lived.
In relation with snoring, respiratory pauses may periodically happen. They may last for a longer or a shorter time but over a minute. Resonant snoring and the sleep apnea syndrome are very frequent pathologies, now better known hanks to the possibility of measuring them with reliable and multiple recordings.
Snoring and especially the sleeps apneas can also be at the origin of serious health problems.
In fact, these troubles are disruptive phenomena of sleeps. They are responsible for a state of fatigue and for diurnal sleepiness. They often cause headaches and in the long term they can have a far more serious effect on the body.
As the air no longer sufficiently penetrates into the lungs, the blood oxygen decreases whereas the carbonic gas rate increases.
These modifications of gas in the blood may entail some suffering from sensitive organs.
When these apneas occur several times an hour, ominous effects on the organism appear such as troubles with the blood pressure sufferings of the cardiac muscle ant the noble tissues, especially the brain.
A night's sleep, fragmented by many micro-awakenings without the patient noticing them most of the time, ends up in a difficult morning awakening. This sleep is then little refreshing.
The excessive diurnal hypersomnia that derives from it is not refreshing as well. This symptom then suggests a sleep apnea syndrome.
Thus, untimely sleep may happen any time during the day and it gravely interferes with the patient's professional and social activities. Hypersomnia in particular may render car driving risky.
The sleep apnea syndrome is therefore a serious pathology with important consequences on the body. Nevertheless, this often-misunderstood syndrome is frequent.
On account of the risk the patient runs on the cardiovascular plan and because of its psychological, social and/or professional repercussions, this syndrome has to be recognized and treated in time.
The sleep apnea syndrome can be observed at any age but before 60 it mainly concerns men. Women over 60 are equally touched. Its impact on the general population is poorly known, but it is currently estimated within a margin going from 1 to 5% of the population.
Among the patients suffering from hypertension, 22% to 47% would be the carriers of the sleep apnea syndrom.
The sleep apnea syndrome seems to be responsible for an over mortality of 11% for a 5-year period.
It is important to diagnose it early.
