Fluid retention, a key factor in sleep apnea.

In people who do not suffer from overweight.

Some simple measures like raising a little the top of the bed and do some physical exercise such as walking for half an hour before bedtime, may help prevent the symptoms of sleep apnea

The diet also affects the water retention, so avoid foods with sodium is a preventive measure

In Spain they are diagnosed and treated about 200,000 patients of OSAHS, those figures represent only 10% of patients suffering from this disease in its severest form

Fluid retention in the legs and subsequent migration to the neck during sleep could explain the occurrence of sleep apnea (OSAHS) in non-obese patients, according to Dr. Douglas Bradley, director of the Center for Sleep Disorders Research cardiopulmonary Toronto General Hospital (Canada). Dr. Joaquín Duran, coordinator of the Sleep Apnea SEPAR, says that "people who suffer from sleep apnea show a major shift of fluid from the legs to the neck during sleep. The tank liquid level of the neck may facilitate the onset and worsening of sleep apnea "

While in Spain are diagnosed and treated about 200,000 patients of OSAHS, those figures represent only 10% of patients suffering from this disease in its severest form. July Ancochea President SEPAR (Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery) says that "for specialists in pulmonology, contribute to the training of specialists in sleep disordered breathing. It is precisely this challenge which has led to separate launch the Course II Respiratory Sleep Disorders has concluded that this Friday. "

The results of the study that has found a direct correlation between the edema of the legs and in OSAHS patients with overweight, show that this migration of liquid to the neck, is directly related to the time people remain seated. The mechanism is because, in this position, the force of gravity causes it to accumulate up to half a liter of water in the lower limbs, and at night, when the patient adopts a horizontal position, the fluid moving toward the upper body. When this happens, the neck swells up to 1.5 centimeters, pressing the airways. This represents up to five times more fluid with respect to persons who do not have OSAHS. Dr. Bradley noted that "the relationship between water retention and increase the size of the neck predicts 68% of sleep apnea so that this factor could be relevant to the screening of this disease and to detect persons who are particularly susceptible" .