Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing stops suddenly for at least 10 seconds during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs due to factors that cause obstruction in the upper respiratory tract and can be seen in all age groups. 

The main symptoms are; loud snoring, apnea attacks witnessed by someone else, sudden waking up from sleep with a feeling of suffocation, dry mouth or pain in the throat when waking up in the morning, insomnia despite the long sleep period, inability to wake up refreshed and rested, frequent headaches, frequent sleepiness during the day, sleepiness in traffic and / or at work, depressive mood or irritability and attention problems.

Patients with suspected sleep apnea in their complaints and history are first examined dynamically with an endoscope in detail and all areas that potentially block the airway and interrupt the respiratory tract; nose, nasal passages, throat, small tongue, soft palate, tongue root and tonsils, larynx are evaluated. If necessary, radiologic examinations such as MRI and CT are used to visualize the airways and evaluate stenosis. Sleep endoscopy is a dynamic method that allows evaluation of the airway in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea under anesthesia in patients who are thought to be unable to perform adequate evaluation in the awake examination environment. In the light of the information obtained with this method, information can be obtained about whether the patient needs surgery or not, and if so, which surgeries may be useful first.

If deemed necessary as a result of the examinations and tests, the patient is admitted to a sleep center for a more detailed evaluation and a sleep analysis test called polysomnography is performed. This test measures the duration and number of respiratory arrests. In addition, it can also provide information such as heart rhythm, blood oxygen percentage, and the severity of snoring. In the light of all these parameters, the disease is handled in 3 groups as mild, moderate and severe. 

Sleep apnea treatments are listed as lifestyle changes, surgical treatments and positive air pressure according to the level of the disease. In treatment, it is essential to get rid of extra weight, if any. Smoking and alcohol use should be avoided. Surgical treatments may be recommended for mild and moderate apnea patients depending on the location and level of stenosis. Patients with severe sleep apnea scores are primarily recommended PAP (pressurized airway machine) treatment. In cases of stenosis that prevents the use of the machine or in cases where patients are not satisfied with this treatment and cannot use it, surgery for airway obstruction may be considered.

In the presence of sleep apnea (especially in people with moderate and severe apnea scores), the brain cannot rest because it cannot go into deep sleep.  An intense desire to consume carbohydrates is observed and the food intake is rapidly converted into adipose tissue, causing fat accumulation and thickening in the abdomen and neck area. This situation both aggravates apnea symptoms and causes a significant increase in the risk of systemic diseases such as insulin resistance, thyroid diseases, diabetes, hypertension and arrhythmia. For this reason, it is essential that people with suspected sleep apnea or diagnosed apnea due to their complaints should consult an ENT specialist as soon as possible and undergo the necessary examinations and tests and treatment.