Sleep Apnoea/Hypopnoea Syndrome

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome Presenting in a Neurology Outpatient Clinic

“…However, OSAS does not seem to be associated with elevated serum Cortisol or plasma catecholamines 23 . Sleep arousals in OSAS are associated with transient elevations of blood pressure which may produce vascular sequelae even in the absence of sustained hypertension 2 . A recent review suggests that sleep‐related breathing disorders are a risk factor for stroke through haemodynamic and haematological changes, and that patients with transient ischaemic attack or stroke should be investigated for sleep‐related breathing disorder 24 …”

“…Narcolepsy and OSAS share certain clinical features, particularly excessive daytime somnolence, but narcolepsy generally occurs in a younger age group than OSAS, and is less common 1,2,5–7 . The absence of associated features of the narcoleptic syndrome (cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis) may assist in the differential diagnosis.…”

“…The obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) 1 or sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) 2 is caused by critical narrowing of the upper airway during sleep: reduced muscle tone leads to increased resistance to the flow of air, and partial obstruction often results in loud snoring 1–7 . Sleep is restless because of successive episodes of apnoea, often witnessed by the bed partner, which are relieved by brief arousal from sleep.…”