New Delhi: Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition characterised by disruptive breathing patterns when one sleeps. And this condition can be deadly if not treated timely – but in many cases, the symptoms are overlooked which leads to irreversible damage in a long run. In some cases, one can also snore too loud while sleeping causing patients to wake up gasping for breath or choking or feeling too exhausted during the day. Despite being a rare occurrence, it can raise death risk as well. But according to a study, a simple blood test could be key to diagnosing the same.
What are the risk factors for sleep apnoea?
Doctors say that if left untreated, sleep apnoea can raise the risk of heart diseases by 30% and stroke by 60%. The most common risk factors for this condition are:
Smoking
Alcohol
Age
Obesity
Type-2 diabetes
How does a blood test help with sleep apnoea diagnosis?
Scientists at São Paulo, Brazil evaluated whether or not the blood test could be used as a means to predict the risk of someone developing the potentially-deadly condition. According to experts, the low-cost test checks levels of homocysteine in the blood. This amino acid, in excess, is associated with a high risk of hyperhomocysteinemia and this can cause changes in the blood vessels and it may also raise the risk of heart diaeases, strokes, heart attacks and thrombosis.
Researchers of the Federal University of São Paulo studied the same and with 854 volunteers aged 20 to 80. They had all undergone a polysomnography test in 2007 to check apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) levels which counts the number of times breathing stopped mid-sleep or stopped during an average hour. It was found that five to 15 such events taking place per hour is mild sleep apnoea and 15-30 is moderate and more than 30 times is considered severe sleep apnoea.
Researchers also found that more than half of the participants were diagnosed with no apnoea; however, 24.4% per cent had a mild form of the condition, 12.4% had moderate and 8.8% had severe sleep apnoea. The same group was also classified as per levels of homocysteine in the blood. The reading stands at:
10 µmol/l is normal
10 to 15 µmol/l moderate
More than 15 µmol/l high
The study was published in the European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology.
Scientists at São Paulo, Brazil evaluated whether or not the blood test could be used as a means to predict the risk of someone developing the potentially-deadly condition. According to experts, the low-cost test checks levels of homocysteine in the blood. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
