title: [Sleep disordered breathing].
abstract: Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by cessation of breathing during sleep, oxygen desaturation and awakenings during night. There are several types of breathing disorders during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also characterized by snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is less common and characterized by reduced respiratory drive from the central nervous system. Upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, absence ofapneas, hypopneas and lack of significant oxygen desaturation. The consequences of the abnormal breathing during sleep include excessive daytime sleepiness, development of arterial hypertension, ischemic cardiac disease, neurocognitive dysfunction, glaucomic optico-neuropathy, metabolic dysfunction. The early diagnosis requires detailed anamnestic data, standardized questionnaires for detection of sleep disordered breathing and whole-night polysomnography in the sleep laboratory. Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliances, and surgery (e.g., uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, UPPP). Early diagnosis of OSA enables early treatment, improvement of its symptoms and eventually reduces development of co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Katedra za neuroznanost i znanstvenu metodologiju, Medicinski fakultet u Splitu. zdogas@bsb.mefst.hr
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dogas
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valić
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pecotić
authors.forename: Marija Cavar
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pupić
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carev
authors.forename: Lovre
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bojić
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Racić
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis