Sleep Apnea: Understanding its Impact on Daily Life

Do you know the signs of sleep apnea and how it can affect your everyday life? Learn why it's crucial not to underestimate this condition and explore cutting-edge technologies that greatly enhance the diagnostic process.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) affects around 8% of the global population, yet it often goes unnoticed. Sleep apnea occurs when breathing stops completely for more than 10 seconds during sleep. Another equally concerning phenomenon during sleep is shallow breathing.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Frequent, abrupt nighttime awakenings accompanied by anxiety and a sensation of breathlessness,
• Loud, irregular snoring interrupted by an unsettling silence,
• Excessive sweating at night,
• Heart palpitations,
• Acid reflux,
• Persistent daytime fatigue.

Left untreated, this overlooked condition can lead to more severe health issues, such as heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, and cognitive impairment, directly impacting safety in daily activities.

Causes of obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is often directly related to another coexisting disease or habit. Among the most common causes are overweight and obesity, polyps, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. However, sleep apnea can also result from purely physiological aspects, such as a deviated nasal septum, tissue overgrowth (due to past infections), improper jaw structure, and a relatively short, thick neck.

This distinctive set of causes makes it easy to identify specific social groups most vulnerable to sleep apnea. These include men over 40, postmenopausal women, patients with chronic illnesses, and elders.

Effective diagnosis in a modern form

Living with obstructive sleep apnea is challenging for both the affected individual and their immediate environment. Therefore, it's crucial to be inquisitive and insist on a diagnosis. Unfortunately, pharmacotherapy is not effective in treating sleep apnea. In most cases, the most successful way to overcome the condition is to change habits and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Thus, the sooner and more efficiently the diagnosis is made, the better for the patient and their loved ones.

In this process, Comarch Sleep Polygraph can help – a modern, telemedical solution for diagnosing sleep apnea in home conditions. The examination is conducted at night, in the patient's home. The device allows for the immediate remote transmission of recorded vital functions to the Comarch e-Care 2.0 platform for the initial identification of occurring apneas and respiratory shallowings. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms assist in making the diagnosis.

The solution consists of a minimal number of integrated elements and is easy to use, designed with the safety and comfort of patients in mind, ensuring that the examination is not only accurate but also comfortable. Both Comarch Sleep Polygraph and the telemedical platform Comarch e-Care 2.0 are medical devices certified for compliance with EU Regulation 2017/745 (MDR).

Wish to learn more about the solution or receive a personalized offer? Don’t hesitate to contact our consultant via dedicated form.