What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is when a person stops breathing during sleep because his or her airway collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs. There are several causes of this disease including but not limited to extra tissue at the back of the throat, such as an enlarged uvula or tonsils, the muscles of the airway may have poor tone or strength, an obstruction of the nasal airway, or structure of the face or jaw may contribute.
Many times a person with obstructive sleep apnea goes undiagnosed and untreated. Signs and symptoms associated with sleep apnea are snoring, choking or gasping for breath when sleeping, if someone has told you that you stop breathing when sleeping, feeling tired or fatigued after you sleep, a weight change in the past 5 years, or if you have ever fallen asleep while driving.
Secondary symptoms that can occur are morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, depression, irritability, and memory loss. If untreated, patients are at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, motor vehicle or work related injuries related to tiredness and fatigue, and decreased quality of life.
Your healthcare provider can provide testing to determine if you have obstructive sleep apnea. A series of testing through a Sleep Lab will help narrow it down. The most common treatment is CPAP therapy. CPAP is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is provided through the use of airflow through a mask to keep the airway open during periods of sleep.
During CPAP therapy, breathing is easier and snoring is resolved, the oxygen level of the body returns to normal, sleep is more restful, quality of life is improved, and the risks listed above are decreased.
Click Here for additional information on Understanding Sleep Apnea provided by The American Sleep Apnea Association.
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