Apnea Hypopnea Index - What Precisely Is The Apnea-Hypopnea Index And How Can It Help Me Sleep Better?

The apnea hypopnea index (AHI), similar though different from Respiratory Disturbance Index (or RDI), is a measurement standard employed to assess the number of times they stop breathing (apnea) and also the number of times their sleep is disrupted (hypopnea) during resting hours. The term "apnea" comes from the Greek prefix "a" ("without") and "pneein" ("to breathe"). The apnea gauged in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index, then, are moments in time that the person sleeps "without breathing." Generally, the individual's breathing stops around ten seconds or even longer. "Hypopnea" derives from the Greek words "hypo" ("below") and "pneein" (breathing). The word hypopnea refers to those whose breathing is "below breathing" at night (indicating moments of sleep disturbance).

Apnea hypopnea is different from apnea in that hypopnea relates to shallow breathing while apnea concerns the absence of breathing. A person with sleep apnea could possibly die if their breathing ceases for an unusual period of time during the night. This can occur due to the cutoff of oxygen to the lungs and throat. The AHI is conducted for patients who possess all the signs and symptoms indicative of sleep apnea.

This individual had 70 events during 8 hours of sleeping, for an AHI of 8.75, or 9. "9" fits the mild category, because the mild category is categorized as anywhere from 5-15 sleeping events.

The individual in question has an AHI of 30, which classifies him or her as being a borderline (if not baseline) severe apnea-hypopnea patient, since the moderate classification goes up to 30 and the severe category is 30 and above. This individual certainly needs sleep treatment in order to avoid death by sleep apnea. This is not the most serious case, nevertheless: since the severe index can go above 30, an individual will surely have an AHI index of "42" and be in a worse state than the individual who registers "30" on the AHI.

Sleep apnea and sleep hypopnea have both been discussed; how to calculate the AHI index has been outlined. However, what about the significance of the numbers? The AHI numbers signify an underlying medical problem. If someone registers a "30" on the AHI scale, for instance, he or she most likely has got some physical symptoms that they have largely ignored, maybe unbeknownst to them.

The person with sleep apnea snores frequently, and loudly. Next, the sleep apnea patient is affected with memory problems. He or she lacks memory recall and concentration on easy tasks. Next, sleep apnea patients experience restless sleep. Usually, they will toss and turn in their sleep, many times a night to find a comfortable place to rest-though they do not find it. Headaches are frequent: sleep apnea patients experience headaches either during their sleep or after they wake up next morning. Lastly, sleep apnea patients undergo personality changes. They may become more irritable all of a sudden, or less friendly than normal, etc. Watch out for major personality changes, as this may be a sign that the person is not having enough rest.

The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is a key used by doctors to assess the level of apnea-hypopnea sleeping disorder a person has got. Apneas are the number of times a person stops breathing during the rest, while hypopneas are the number of times a person has shallow breathing when sleeping. In case you calculate your AHI index and find that you have somewhat moderate to a severe case, you should talk with your doctor immediately to see what treatment options are available. You never know: assessing your AHI index just might save your life.

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