Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder affecting millions of people. It is characterized by one or more pauses in breathing while you sleep, with each pause lasting approximately 10 seconds up to 30 seconds or longer.
When normal breathing starts again, it can be accompanied by a choking sound or loud snort. Apnea results in poor sleep quality and leads to daytime sleepiness, fatigue and irritability.
There are several types of sleep apnea but obstructive sleep apnea is the most common. It happens when the throat muscles relax intermittently during sleep, thus blocking your airway. This condition usually affects older adults although anyone can develop OSA. It is also common in overweight individuals.
Symptoms
There are three major symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea: snoring, sleepiness and spousal reports of apnea. Someone close to the patient, such as a spouse, can provide valuable information. The patient is usually unaware that he or she suffers from it.
They may even think of themselves as good sleepers because they can easily fall asleep anytime. Sleepiness is a potentially dangerous symptom of apnea. Accidents can happen as a result of drowsiness.
It is important to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea properly as it can lead to debilitating medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, depression and coronary artery disease. Daytime sleepiness can also cause accidents.
Treatment
Mild cases of apnea can be corrected by losing weight through diet and exercise. Some people can prevent apnea by not sleeping on their back. For more severe cases, it can be treated by wearing breathing devices at night or undergoing corrective surgery to remove the airway obstruction.
Some individuals with obstructive sleep apnea use a device called a nasal CPAP to keep the airway open while they sleep. A CPAP machine, or continuous positive airway pressure machine, delivers air through a mask kept over the nose or both the nose and mouth. CPAP therapy is considered to be the most effective and popular therapy for OSA.
In children, apnea may be caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids. The disorder can be corrected by tonsillectomy. Adults who opt for surgery to treat OSA can have their airway obstruction removed. A procedure called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty removes excess tissue at the back of the throat. Corrective surgery must be tailored to the patient's specific anatomical obstruction to be effective.
If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can increase the risk of accidents, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Lifestyle changes, surgery and breathing devices can correct this sleep disorder successfully.
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