Sleep apnea explained in 5 minutes
Symptoms, health consequences and treatment options. The essentials before you book a consultation.
Dr. Marie Lefèvre
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects nearly 2 million diagnosed people in France, and it is estimated that close to 5 million more are affected without knowing it. Yet treatment is now simple, reimbursed, and literally transforms patients’ lives.
What is a sleep apnea?
An apnea is a breathing pause of more than 10 seconds during sleep. We speak of sleep apnea syndrome when these pauses repeat at least 5 times per hour (and far more in severe forms).
During these pauses, blood oxygenation drops. The brain triggers a micro-arousal to restart breathing. Sleep is no longer restorative, even if you don’t remember anything in the morning.
Warning signs to watch for
- Loud, chronic snoring, sometimes punctuated by silences and noisy recoveries;
- Persistent daytime fatigue despite 7 to 8 hours of sleep;
- Morning headaches, dry-mouth feeling on waking;
- Falling asleep at the wheel, in front of a screen or in meetings;
- Irritability, concentration or memory difficulties.
If several of these signs are present, talk to your GP. A home sleep test can confirm the diagnosis in a single night.
Why does it matter to treat it?
Untreated sleep apnea multiplies the risk of:
- high blood pressure (×2 to 3);
- stroke (×2);
- depression and cognitive decline;
- road accidents from sleepiness (×7).
Good news: with the right therapy, those risks fall back to general- population levels.
Treatment options
The reference treatment remains Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). A small device blows air at light pressure through a mask, to keep the airways open all night.
Other options exist:
- Mandibular advancement device for mild to moderate apnea;
- ENT surgery in some specific anatomical cases;
- Positional therapy if apneas only occur on the back.
How Apneroo supports you
If a CPAP is prescribed, Apneroo installs it at your home, fits your mask, and supports you throughout your treatment. Our team of nurses and technicians remains available 7 days a week to adjust, troubleshoot or simply answer your questions.
The right treatment is the one you stick with. That is why we put human support at the heart of our approach.