Архив метки: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is the term used to denote the respiratory standstill in one’s sleep caused by upper airway collapse, up to its complete obstruction (blockade). The absence of breathing process lasting over 10 seconds activates the respiratory center and sends signals for activation of the strongest respiratory muscle – the diaphragm. For some period of time conditioned by the initial tone and the diaphragm “performance efficiency” the convulsive breathing moves are occurring, yet without inhale proper. The muscular tone of the diaphragm further increases and at some certain point the sleeping person manages to take a pant. After several breathing acts the muscular tone drops again, thus leading to the repeated apnea cycle. In case the number of breath-holdings augments up to 10-15 per hour, this shall result in sleep pattern disturbance, the occurrence of diurnal drowsiness, augmented headaches, memory impairment and metabolic disorders.

The yoga-therapeutic approach to restoration of the tone of pharyngeal muscles and the diaphragm comes as a unique method of treating the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This is the theme that me as a representative of the Ukrainian Institute of Yoga and Yoga-Therapy have turned into the subject of my workshop that was delivered at the research-to-practice conference “The Current Issues of Theoretical and Practical Somnology in Ukraine. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Non-invasive and Invasive Pulmonary Ventilation” held within a framework of the 23^rd International Exhibition “Public Health Services 2014”.

Olga Golovnya, the 1^st category cardiologist, UIYYT