In particular, studies have shown that apnea can manifest itself differently in Rem sleep: “great memory consolidation and emotional regulation … happens during rem”, explains Mander. “If you wake up during Rem because of the breathing event, you can fragment this process. And if it happens night after night, it adds up.”
Therefore, early diagnosis is crucial – but it is not currently. Diagnosis is often based on a partner noticing noisy snoring, at best an unbelievable signal.
“In fact, women – and especially pregnant women – were overlooked when it comes to sleep disorders,” says Brown. “At the moment our diagnostic standards for sleep apnea are based on very narrow demographic men of middle -aged. But we know that women look different.”
“What is classified as a” soft “apnea in a man can be moderate or even severe in a woman, especially during pregnancy,” he adds. “We supported research in pregnant women who stated that even mild breathing with sleep disorders was an independent risk factor for mother hypertension, preeclate and pregnancy diabetes.”
Technology companies are racing to fill the diagnostic gap. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch has recently become the first wearing that received the authorization of De Novo from the American Food and Drug Administration to detect the signs of a wasp. But experts remain careful. “Carrier and sleep tests at home are improved, but they are not yet replacements for full clinical diagnosis,” says Malhotra. “They can give a false sense of security – people see the result and think that they are fine when they are not.”
Mander is also skeptical: “They are not accurate enough to replace the right diagnosis,” he says. “They can be better than nothing – as long as you treat it as one information, not a full picture.” He adds that while smartwatches and rings can track indicators such as heart rate variability, they are still not reliable in detecting breathing patterns.
The golden standard of diagnosis is polysomnography, clinical sleep test, which monitors brain waves, oxygen, heart rate and muscle activity. But it is pricey and time consuming and does not scale well.
Novel home appliances now offer better options. Mander emphasizes watches that uses finger sensors, wrist and chest to detect apnea events by analyzing blood vessels. There is also Ares, to wear a headband monitor, which measures air flow, oxygen levels and sleep position and Nightowl, a paddler that has received FDA approval in recent years.
“This is a big step forward, especially when you reach underestimated populations that may not be able to access the sleep laboratory,” says Mander. Still, there are restrictions. “At the moment, the home test does not know if you are sleeping or sleeping, and even more so the stage of sleep. He would probably miss people from the dominant wasp in the dominant rem”-he says. “If we have devices that can detect when these events take place-in Rem compared to non-REM-who can help us collect people earlier and reduce their risk.”
After diagnosing CPAP – constant positive pressure in the respiratory tract – causes a golden standard of treatment, although it is uncomfortable or claustrophobic for some users. He uses a compact machine for supplying a eternal air stream through the mask, maintaining open respiratory tract during sleep. “CPAP improves symptoms, blood pressure, and now we have evidence that this can reduce cardiovascular risk,” says Malhotra.
For those who cannot tolerate CPAP, novel tools such as nasal inserts appear on the market. Some interventions are more unconventional – and but surprisingly effective. “There is an Australian study that has shown that learning Didgeridoo has helped strengthen the throat muscles and reduce the severity of the wasp,” says Mander. “It’s a fun example, but it works.”
Ultimately, the most essential step is awareness. “We used to think that snoring was simply annoying or funny,” says Malhotra. “Now we understand that it can be a sign of a serious health. If you snore firmly or feel still tired, don’t feel him – go to the doctor.”