[ad_1]
SAN DIEGO – (BUSINESS WIRE) – More than 936 million people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea – the first update of the prevalence of the disease for more than ten years – according to Lancet respiratory medicine, first world magazine in its field.
The lancet today released a multinational badysis by ResMed (NYSE: RMD) (ASX: RMD) and 12 university leaders in sleep research. The results were presented for the first time at the 2018 ATS International Conference in San Diego.
This figure is nearly 10 times higher than the 2007 estimates of the World Health Organization, which were more than 100 million, recalling that doctors needed to redouble efforts to screen for, diagnose and prescribe treatment to those who suffered unconsciously.
"More than 85% of patients with sleep apnea are not diagnosed, which means that hundreds of millions of people are repeatedly suffocated instead of sleeping in good sleep every night," he said. said Carlos M. Nunez, M. Co. "This increases their risk of work and road accidents and can contribute to other important health problems, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease or even inadequate control of blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. We know the risks and we now know that the magnitude of the problem is almost 10 times greater than expected. The treatment of these problems begins with the screening of patients we know to be at high risk. "
Why is sleep apnea generally not diagnosed?
Victims often do not know they are suffering. They will stop breathing for 10 seconds or more during the night – called "apnea" – and wake up several times to breathe better and avoid choking. They rarely remember waking up, but the disruptive cycle causes chronic sleep deprivation.
"Many will attribute the resulting fatigue to aging or stress," Nunez said. "Others will talk about their problem to their doctor, but will be misdiagnosed with insomnia, migraines, chronic fatigue or other conditions. Mistakes in diagnosis are particularly common among women because it has long been believed that sleep apnea was much more prevalent in men. "
Today, women account for 40% of newly diagnosed sleep apnea patients.
Another reason many people suffer unconsciously can be attributed to cultural ideas about what constitutes a good sleep.
"For example, some people think that snoring may be just a normal sleep characteristic of some people, when in fact it is one of the most important signs of sleep apnea risk," he said. Nunez. "With a global prevalence of close to 1 billion people, patients and physicians need to consider risks and ask questions that may help them sleep better and live better lives. This is no longer a problem that can be treated lightly or ignored. "
Who is at risk for sleep apnea?
According to many researches, more than half of people suffering from obesity, heart failure, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), atrial fibrillation or diabetes type 2 also have sleep apnea.
Snoring is the number one indicator of sleep apnea in men and women, although not all snorers have it – and all those who suffer from it are not gnawing.
People who stop breathing during long periods of sleep also have a higher risk of developing this disease.
"The bottom line is, if you are constantly tired or have other conditions related to sleep apnea, you can safely ask your doctor," Nunez said. "Do not just get tired all the time. Sleep apnea is 100% treatable. You can improve your sleep, your mood, your relationships at work and at home, your health, and even other health problems that you manage. But first, you must know it. "
About ResMed
At ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD), we innovate in innovative solutions that treat people outside the hospital and enable them to live healthier and better. Our cloud-connected medical devices transform the care of people with sleep apnea, COPD and other chronic diseases. Our comprehensive software platforms outside the hospital support professionals and caregivers who help people stay healthy at home or in care settings of their choice. By enabling better care, we improve the quality of life, reduce the impact of chronic diseases, and reduce costs for consumers and healthcare systems in more than 120 countries. For more information, visit ResMed.com and follow @ResMed.
Source link
