Up to 30% of patients with sleep apnea do not comply with the treatment.

-March 15, world sleep day,

-Valdecillas Hospital (Santander), Hospital, iron door, Majadaonda (Madrid), Hospital Ramón y Cajal (Madrid), Hospital Infanta Leonor (Madrid), Hospital of Torrejón (Madrid) and Hospital of Laredo (Cantabria), participated in this joint action

-sleep apnea is a chronic condition thatnot treated it can lead to diseases such as hypertension, arrhythmias, stroke, heart disease or type II diabetes, and is responsible for a high rate of traffic accidents, by daytime sleepiness produced by

-treatment with CPAP (positive pressure of air in the respiratory tract) effectively eliminates the symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients; a good education and informationon the patient on treatment alternatives, as well as appropriate follow-up are key to improving the adeherencia

Spain, March of 2013.- syndrome (SAHS) sleep apnea is characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep which causes small drowning and prevents proper oxygenation of the blood. As a result, patients suffer from fatigue and daytime sleepiness as well as cardiorrespiratorios severe disorders. It is a relevant due to its high prevalence disease since it affects between 4% and 6% of middle aged men and between 2% and 4% of women in the same age bracket, and also the deterioration of the quality of life of patients and their direct consequences on your life expectancy.

Sleep apnea is a loss of quality of life due to sleepiness generated; and as a result, much limits the activity of the patients. Applying continuous pressure in the airway through a nasal mask, during the hours of sleep, known as CPAP, is the treatment of choice for most patients with OSAS. With CPAP treatment can improve symptoms and, therefore, the capacity and activity of patients and, in turn, extend the life expectancy of the same.

Up to 30% of patients violate the therapy

However, treatment with CPAP, still effective, safe, simple, non-invasive, and valid for between 70% and 80% of patients, incorporates a alien ” in an everyday activity as it is sleep. Adapting to devices, air flow and masks of the patient from the beginning of treatment is essential. If this does not occur, the use of CPAP can generate discomfort that eventually reduce the adhesion or even lead to the discontinuation of treatment, and therefore, a return to the negative consequences for the quality of life and health of the patient with sleep apnea.

A classroom breathes to learn to live with Apnea and sleep with CPAP

To the problems which this disease causes for those affected and on the occasion of the world day of sleep, the Spanish society of Pneumology and thoracic surgery (SEPAR), has coordinated a session classroom breathes in 6 hospitals of Spanish level on the sleep apneaespecially, focused on patients to help them better understand their disease and facilitate the use of the CPAP. Involving around 350 patients.

Titled breathe classroom Apnea, ronco and have sleep. adherence to treatment with CPAP ”, sponsored by Philips Respironics ” has an eminently practical and through testimonial videos nature try to explain better both patients and their caregivers (who often are those who discover disease due to snoring and choking of his partner) how this disease affects your everyday life and how quickly treatment with CPAP improves the symptoms and allows to recover the pace of normal life. However, treatment requires a period of adaptation. Classroom breathes offers some tips for adapting to the treatment but the goal is than the patients participants at the meeting who explain their experience and encourage other participants to ask their questions and addressing their concerns.

adherence to treatment is key to their effectiveness. Therefore, properly adjust the pressure and the moisture in the air during the night and provide a mask that allows a comfortable rest, are key to acceptance of treatment ”-explains Salvador Diaz, Coordinator of the area of SeparPacientes. All this, along with a close doctor-patient relationship / caregiver, improve the comfort of the patient and therefore adherence to treatment, for as soon as possible an improvement in symptoms and quality of life ”, adds.