The apnea hypopnea index (AHI), equivalent though distinct from Respiratory Disturbance Index (or RDI), is a measuring standard used to assess the number of times they stop breathing (apnea) and also the number of times their sleep is interrupted (hypopnea) during rest 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 instances in time that the person sleeps "without breathing." Normally, the individual's breathing stops around ten seconds or longer. "Hypopnea" comes from the Greek words "hypo" ("below") and "pneein" (breathing). The word hypopnea describes those whose breathing is "below breathing" during the night (indicating moments of sleep disturbance).

Apnea hypopnea is different from apnea in that hypopnea relates to shallow breathing while apnea relates to the lack of breathing. A person with sleep apnea could potentially die if their breathing stops for an unusual period of time during the night. This could occur because of 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 person had 70 occurrences during 8 hours of sleep, for an AHI of 8.75, or 9. "9" fits the mild category, since the mild category is categorized as anywhere from 5-15 sleeping events.

The person in question has an AHI of 30, which classifies him or her as 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 person certainly requires sleep treatment so as to avoid death by sleep apnea. This is not the most severe case, nevertheless: since the severe index may go above 30, an individual can 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 relevance of the numbers? The AHI numbers indicate an underlying medical condition. If someone registers a "30" on the AHI scale, for example, he or she most likely has got some physical symptoms they have largely ignored, perhaps 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 falls short of memory recall and attention on easy tasks. Next, sleep apnea patients suffer from restless sleep. Often, they will toss and turn in their sleep, many times a night to find a very comfortable place to rest-though they do not find it. Headaches are common: sleep apnea patients experience headaches either during their sleep or after they wake up next morning. Lastly, sleep apnea patients experience personality changes. They may become much more irritable suddenly, or less sociable than normal, etc. Watch out for major personality changes, as this could be a sign that the person is not getting 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 any person stops breathing during the rest, while hypopneas are the number of times an individual has shallow breathing while sleeping. If you calculate your AHI index and find that you have somewhat moderate to a severe case, you must talk with your doctor right away to see what treatment options are available. You never know: assessing your AHI index just might save your life.

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