Sleep apnea causes brain damage

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA-USA) on December 4 published a survey showing that women with respiratory obstruction during sleep are at higher risk of brain damage. many times than men .

The results of the study were published in the American magazine "Sleep".

The research team investigated people with sleep apnea and compared the brain neuronal structure of these patients to those with normal sleep.

The scientists focused on assessing the level of brain damage between the sexes due to respiratory obstruction and found that in fact women 's brains are more serious than men.

Specifically, the study showed that obstructive lesions damage the coronary and cortical frontal cortex of women, this is the frontal brain area involved in decision making and emotional regulation. Women with respiratory obstruction during sleep are also at higher risk of anxiety and depression symptoms than men.

Sleep apnea syndrome is considered a dangerous condition, as it dramatically reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. When oxygen in the blood abruptly causes an increase in blood pressure and creates a burden on the cardiovascular system. About half of people with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome will have high blood pressure, and there is a risk of complications of stroke (stroke) and heart failure.

Sleep apnea syndrome makes patients unable to sleep normally, because the brain is awakened repeatedly during the night (the patients themselves cannot feel it). So daytime will be sleepy, tired and easily irritated.