The common disorder hiding behind loud snores
The common disorder hiding behind loud snores
Credit: Generative AI/India Today
Snoring loudly every night is not just disturbing for a partner but an underlying disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea.
Credit: Getty Images
Sadly, over 104 million Indians have the same problem, more prevalent in men than in women.
According to Dr. Sarmishtha Bandyopadhyay, a senior ear, nose and throat specialist at Neotia Mediplus OPD and Diagnostics Clinic, obstructive sleep apnea is considered one of the single most important causes of coronary artery disease in recent times.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition where a person stops breathing for short periods while sleeping because their airway gets blocked.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
When you sleep, the muscles in your throat relax. But in some people, these relaxed muscles collapse too much or the tongue falls back, blocking the airflow.
This makes the person stop breathing for a few seconds, sometimes many times, during the night.
The brain notices the lack of oxygen and briefly wakes the person up to breathe again, often without them realising it.
As a result, people with OSA snore loudly (a common sign), feel very tired during the day, may wake up gasping or choking at night, and may have headaches or trouble concentrating.
OSA is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and metabolic issues. It also causes cognitive decline and memory problems.
"Obstructive sleep apnea puts your heart under stress because your oxygen levels keep dipping throughout the night. Over time, this leads to long-term cardiovascular strain," Dr. Bandyopadhyay told IndiaToday.in.
A sleep test (polysomnography) helps diagnose the condition, following which most doctors recommend using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.
Treatment
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
World Doctors' Day to be observed today
Prayagraj: World Doctors' Day will be observed on Tuesday, July 1, under the theme 'Behind the Mask, Who Heals the Healers' - a reflection on the mental and emotional challenges faced by healthcare workers. The theme calls on society to recognise not just the doctors' efforts but also their humanity and need for support. Professor and head of the department of Pulmonary Medicine at MLN Medical College, Prayagraj, Dr Tariq Mahmood said, "As we celebrate Doctors' Day, it's more than just a time to honour doctors— it's a moment to reflect on the silent, life-threatening diseases that affect millions of Indians every year. Among the most serious of these are lung diseases, especially Tuberculosis (TB), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). " He said that Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infections in India. It affects children, adults, elderly and especially people whose immunity is low — like those with diabetes, kidney disease or poor nutrition. Even after the infection is treated, some patients are not completely healthy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo This is called post-TB lung disease — and it leads to breathlessness, long-term cough, reduced stamina and tiredness. He, however, said the Nikshay Poshan Yojana gives Rs 1,000 per month to TB patients to help them buy nutritious food, as better food helps in better recovery. He also claimed that people and organisations are coming forward to 'Adopt-a-TB-Patient' — providing food, support, and motivation. He, meanwhile, said that there is new hope in TB treatment. The new BPaL regimen is a shorter, safer, and all-tablet treatment for drug-resistant TB. Now, they can recover in just six to nine months, with fewer side effects.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Apollo Hospitals to hive-off pharmacy, digital health businesses
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise on Monday said its board has approved separate listing of its omnichannel pharmacy and digital health businesses within 18-21 months, as part of reorganisation exercise to unlock value. The board of directors of Apollo Hospitals and Apollo HealthCo, a subsidiary of the the healthcare major, have accorded in-principle approval for the composite scheme of arrangement. The scheme entails the demerger of the Omni Channel Pharma and Digital Health business -- comprising the telehealth business of Apollo and its investment in AHL (Apollo HealthCo Limited) -- into a new entity. Following the demerger, the scheme provides for the amalgamation of AHL with the new entity. It would subsequently be followed by the amalgamation of Keimed Pvt Ltd , India's leading wholesale pharmaceutical distributor, with NewCo (new entity). Live Events The scheme creates a formidable omnichannel pharmacy distribution and digital health platform leader in India, with stated plans to achieve Rs 25,000 crore revenue by FY27, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise said in a regulatory filing. Upon the effectiveness of the Scheme, the new entity will become an Indian Owned and Controlled Company (IOCC) and will apply for listing on the stock exchanges, it added. The listing is expected within 18-21 months, the healthcare major said. Upon becoming an IOCC, the entity also proposes to consolidate the front-end pharmacy business by acquiring the remaining 74.5 per cent stake in Apollo Medicals Pvt Ltd (AMPL), which owns 100 per cent of Apollo Pharmacies Limited (APL), it said. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (AHEL) will retain 15 per cent stake in the 'NewCo' to ensure an integrated, seamless, and comprehensive healthcare offering across the patient lifecycle, it added. "The omnichannel pharmacy business and integrated digital healthcare ecosystem will be a unique model to enable access to high-quality healthcare for millions of Indians," Apollo Hospitals Group Chairman Prathap C Reddy said. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise MD Suneeta Reddy said the proposal enables the healthcare provider's shareholders to gain direct shareholding to country's largest omni-channel pharmacy and digital health platform. "The new entity, once integrated, will be a truly customer-focused healthcare leader, with capabilities across the value chain. Delivering medicines seamlessly from 7000+ physical stores, online delivery platform serving over 19,000 pincodes, with Keimed ensuring supply chain integrity, our aspiration is that we will serve over 100 million Indians," Apollo HealthCo Executive Chairperson Shobana Kamineni said. Shares of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise ended 0.87 per cent down at Rs 7,242.75 apiece on BSE. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Experts warn of 'silent disease' affecting American men: Here's what it is
While older females are more aware and conscious of their changing health and body, men rarely take the wake-up call. Due to their belief in strength or fear of suffering, they shoulder many signs of diseases before succumbing to treatment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Something similar seems to be happening right now with American men who according to experts are unaware of developing a 'silent disease' that makes their bones brittle and weak. According to the National Spine Health Foundation, some 2 million US men are suffering from this slow-developing disease. Another 16 million have osteopenia, which is pre-osteoporosis or mild osteoporosis. One may think that with such a widespread diagnosis of the disease, men would be aware of the disease and be concerned about its diagnosis. But no, as per a survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, only 1% of men are concerned about low bone density. In men 65 years and older, falls are the leading cause of injuries and injury-related deaths. If bone density and strength are low, even a minor fall could result in fractures. 'Unfortunately, there are no warning signs before it presents with a fracture,' Dr Paul Lewis, an interventional radiologist at Wexner, told The Post about osteoporosis. What is Osteoporosis? Image credits: Getty Images The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases defines as a bone disease that develops when the mineral density and bone mass decrease or when the structure and strength of the bones change. This increases the risk of fractures. It is called a silent disease as it has no prominent symptoms for identification. How to prevent Osteoporosis ? Image credits: Getty Images However, there are ways the expert suggests one can prevent the disease. As per Lewis, there are four ways to prevent osteoporosis. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Firstly, men must begin discussing testosterone with their doctor from the age of 30. With age, testosterone decreases and that contributes to weaker bones and a higher risk of osteoporosis in men. Secondly, physical exercise is a must as it improves balance. He recommends weight-bearing exercises like walking, hiking, stair climbing, resistance training with weights or bands or yoga. 'Some exercises can combine into helping your heart as well, such as pickleball, tennis or other sports,' said the associate professor at Ohio State's College of Medicine. The third step to take is to make some lifestyle changes. The use of tobacco, consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a day, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition pose a higher risk of osteoporosis. Finally, he recommends getting a screening test, like a DEXA scan which is an X-ray that measures bone density to diagnose osteoporosis.
