Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious sleep disorder characterized by disrupted breathing during sleep and snoring. OSA occurs when the throat muscles briefly relax and block the airway during sleep, causing snoring and frequent awakenings to restore breathing.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Individuals with OSA may experience the following symptoms:

- - Loud snoring
  - Morning headache
  - Excessive daytime sleepiness
  - Difficulty concentrating during the day
  - Decreased libido
  - Nighttime sweating
  - High blood pressure
  - Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
  - Episodes of stopped breathing during sleep observed by another individual
  - Frequently waking up at night accompanied by gasping or choking
  - Mood changes, such as depression or irritability

When To Schedule a Doctor’s Appointment

Patients should schedule a visit to their doctor if they or their partner observe the following:

- - Snoring that is loud and disturbs the sleep of the patient or others
  - Waking up choking or gasping
  - Intermittent pauses in breathing during sleep
  - Excessive daytime drowsiness that may lead to falling asleep while working, driving or watching television

During the visit, patients should ask their doctor about any other types of disorders that may cause symptoms such as chronic fatigue, sleepiness, irritability and daytime drowsiness.

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OSA occurs when the muscles in the mouth, soft palate, tonsils and tongue relax, blocking airflow and disrupting breathing for 10 seconds or longer. This may cause decreased blood oxygen levels and a buildup of carbon dioxide.

The brain senses this impaired breathing and rouses the individual from sleep so that they can reopen the airway. The awakenings are very brief and usually not remembered. The individual may wake up with a snorting, choking or gasping sound anywhere from five to 30 times per hour, all night long. These awakenings keep the individual from reaching deep sleep and obtaining the rest they need to function normally during the day.

Many individuals with OSA are unaware that their sleep was interrupted and may think that they slept soundly during the night.

Risk Factors

The following factors may increase an individual’s risk of developing OSA:

- - Being overweight. Fat deposits around the upperway may block airflow. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome are associated with obesity and may cause OSA.
  - High blood pressure, or hypertension
  - Having naturally narrow airways or enlarged tonsils or adenoids
  - Chronic nasal congestion
  - Smoking
  - Diabetes
  - Being male
  - Having a family history of sleep apnea
  - Asthma

Complications of OSA

Obstructive sleep apnea may lead to the following complications:.

- - Daytime fatigue and sleepiness
  - Cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure and stroke
  - Abnormal heart rhythms may lead to low blood pressure
  - Complications with medications such as sedatives, narcotic analgesics and general anesthetics
  - Complications after surgery, such as worsened breathing problems
  - Eye problems, such as glaucoma
  - Sleep-deprived partners

How OSA is Diagnosed

The physician will evaluate the patient’s symptoms; examine the patient’s mouth, nose and back of throat for extra tissue or abnormalities, and run a few tests to diagnose OSA. The patient may need to undergo a sleep study to give the physician a better understanding of their sleep patterns and rule out other sleep disorders.

Treatment Options

OSA may be treated by wearing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask or mouthpiece during sleep. Some patients may require surgery.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

When To Schedule a Doctor’s Appointment

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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