Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) describes a group of disorders characterized by:
1. Abnormal respiratory patterns (e.g. the presence of apneas or hypopneas); or
2. Insufficient ventilation during sleep.
An apnea is when a patient stops breathing for 10 seconds or more, and wakes up just enough to take a breath.
A hypopnea is when a patient doesn’t stop breathing, but the patient’s breathing becomes shallow (i.e., at least a 30% decrease in airflow) for 10 seconds or more, with an associated oxygen desaturation or arousal.
Either way, sleep disordered breathing disrupts the patient’s sleep pattern, night after night, which not only makes the patient tired and exhausted the next day, but may also put excessive strain on the patient’s nervous system and major organs.
Adherence to therapy can be the biggest challenge for patients with sleep apnea. Comfortable equipment, proper replacement, follow-up and education are critical to helping patients adapt to and stay on therapy.