Nowadays, chronic intermittent sleep medicine is a rapidly evolving field that has gained increasing attention from the medical community. Significant breakthroughs have been made in the study of conditions that interfere with sleep quality, many of which are highly prevalent among Brazilians.
Although relatively new in Brazil, sleep medicine has advanced considerably and now incorporates multiple healthcare specialties, including otolaryngology, pulmonology, neurology, psychiatry, dentistry, cardiology, and psychology. Its multidisciplinary nature reflects the complexity of sleep and its impact on overall health.
Beyond being a basic biological function essential for survival, quality sleep plays a crucial role in daily life. It affects learning, productivity, attention, libido, creativity, motivation for physical activity, and the ability to meet everyday demands.
Sleep medicine addresses a wide range of disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, sleepwalking, night terrors, and sleep-related epilepsy. It also considers their broader consequences, such as traffic accidents, reduced professional performance, and impaired sexual health.
Otolaryngology is one of the specialties most directly involved in sleep medicine. Otolaryngologists diagnose and treat airway-related diseases that can interfere with sleep, using both medical and surgical approaches.
Sleep apnea is considered one of the most dangerous sleep disorders due to its association with multiple comorbidities, including systemic hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, diabetes mellitus, obesitykidney disease, stroke, anxiety, Depression, osteoporosis, and sexual dysfunction.
Otolaryngologists play a critical role in recommending effective treatments that reduce symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life.
One of the most widely used therapies is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) , a non-surgical treatment that keeps the airways open during sleep and allows normal breathing.
Additionally, surgical options may be considered to improve sleep quality. These include tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, lateral pharyngoplasty, expansion pharyngoplasty, and orthognathic surgery, among others.
The American Sleep Disorders Association (ASDA) recommends polysomnography, in its various modalities, as an effective method for diagnosing sleep disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea.
Ultimately, it is essential to note that enhancing sleep quality also necessitates lifestyle adjustments. Incorporating healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and sleep hygiene measures into daily routines can significantly enhance treatment outcomes.
By Dr. Fernanda Tan Miyamura Seibel – Otolaryngologist
CRM [e Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine] - PR 28.907
Instagram: @fernandamiyamura_otorrino
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