Do you need to sleep in separate rooms if you have this disease? Huo Qigang often wakes up in the middle of the night because of this disease. Doctors in Zhejiang Province have seen at least 10 patients in half a day. Severe cases may be life-threatening.

Recently, 43-year-old Huo Qigang participated in an interview on the TVB program "Sleep Well, Wake Up Well" and said that although he went to bed early, he was often awakened by his snoring in the middle of the night, and then he couldn't fall asleep or woke up frequently. In addition, because he breathed through his mouth, he felt dry mouth when he woke up. Even if he slept for 7 hours, he faced strong work pressure after waking up, and felt very tired during the day.

During the show, Ho Kit-yung underwent a professional sleep test and was diagnosed with insomnia and moderate sleep apnea, with his actual deep sleep time being only 4 hours.

After the show was broadcast, netizens were concerned about Huo Qigang's health. In response, Huo Qigang posted a message to thank everyone for their concern. He said he had gone to the hospital for examination and treatment, and reminded netizens to pay attention to their health and learn to rest.

What is sleep apnea? Liu Wenjuan, deputy chief physician of the Sleep Medicine Department of Zhejiang University Jingzhong (Hangzhou Seventh Hospital), said that sleep apnea is sleep apnea syndrome (OSA), which refers to the phenomenon of airway obstruction, frequent apnea and hypopnea during sleep. Its clinical manifestations are like Huo Qigang, such as snoring at night, frequent awakening, poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and severe daytime sleepiness, memory loss, mood changes, etc.

Half-day outpatient clinic sees 40 patients

10 have sleep apnea

"Generally speaking, among the more than 40 patients I see in my half-day clinic, about 30%-40% suffer from sleep apnea syndrome. This means that I encounter at least 10 patients with the disease in each clinic visit, and many of them are at a mild or moderate level, so they are not examined or taken seriously."

Liu Wenjuan said that from the perspective of gender, the incidence rate of men is significantly higher than that of women, with a male-female incidence rate of about 2:1. However, the incidence rate of the disease increases with age, and the number of postmenopausal women with the disease increases compared with premenopausal women. The incidence rate ratio of men and women in people over 60 years old is similar.

"There are many causes of sleep apnea syndrome. In addition to the age and gender mentioned above, there are also upper airway anatomical abnormalities such as nasal obstruction and tonsil hypertrophy, a family history of sleep apnea syndrome, long-term heavy drinking or taking sedatives, hypnotic or muscle relaxants, and long-term smoking," Liu Wenjuan pointed out. "Among them, the most common cause is obesity. Obese people who are 20% or more overweight or have a BMI of 28 or more are often at high risk of the disease, accounting for about 80% of the total number of cases."

A 35-year-old man fell asleep while sitting in a meeting and snored

The longest breathing pause lasted 90 seconds

Mr. Wu, 35, is 1.78 meters tall, but weighs 200 kilograms, with a BMI of over 31. When he was first diagnosed, his clothes could not cover his bulging belly.

Mr. Wu said that he had not been able to sleep well for several years. The most embarrassing thing was that he fell asleep while sitting in meetings several times and even snored. His wife added that her husband's snoring was so loud that she couldn't sleep well, so they had to sleep in separate rooms.

Through sleep monitoring, it was found that Mr. Wu's blood oxygen level at night was only 76%, the sleep apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was more than 40 times/hour, and the longest apnea lasted 90 seconds. He was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

According to the parameters of Mr. Wu's sleep test, Liu Wenjuan put a portable ventilator on him to improve hypoxia. At the same time, Mr. Wu began to actively lose weight. Through interventions in exercise, nutrition, work and rest, etc., after a year, his weight has dropped to 160 kilograms.

Sleep testing is an important means of diagnosis for this disease. Through PSG monitoring, it was found that Mr. Wu's blood oxygen level at night was only 76%, the sleep apnea hypopnea index (AHI) exceeded 40 times/hour, and the longest apnea lasted for 90 seconds. He was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.

"If all the indicators indicate that his sleep at night is normal, then the ventilator can be removed." Liu Wenjuan emphasized that for obese people with sleep apnea syndrome, the first priority is to lose weight.

Mild sleep apnea syndrome

It is recommended to manage from multiple aspects such as diet and body position

"Of course, not all patients with sleep apnea syndrome are suitable for wearing a ventilator, and a clinical diagnosis is needed to determine the cause." Liu Wenjuan said that for patients with upper airway obstruction caused by nasal obstruction, tonsil hypertrophy of degree II or above, uvula that is too long or too thick, pharyngeal stenosis, pharyngeal tumors, short neck, etc., wearing a ventilator is not effective and requires treatment through correction or surgery.

Except for patients with upper airway anatomical abnormalities, for most mild sleep apnea syndromes, Liu Wenjuan recommends the following ways to improve them:

1. General treatment. Lose weight, quit smoking and drinking, use sedatives and hypnotic drugs with caution and other drugs that may cause or aggravate apnea, avoid excessive fatigue, etc.;

2. Posture therapy. The side-lying position is effective for mild obstructive sleep apnea. It is recommended to place a triangular pillow behind the back to control the body position.

3. Oral Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine says that "fat people have more phlegm and dampness". Clinically, the use of Chinese medicine that can eliminate phlegm and dampness is helpful in regulating the patient's overall metabolic level.

4. Those with insomnia should cooperate with sleep cognitive behavioral therapy, and those with emotional disorders need psychological specialist evaluation and treatment simultaneously.

Metropolis Express·Chengshi Interactive Reporter Zhang Jing Jinjing