|
Simply snoring or something more?
|
|
If you snore, you may know about nightly jabs in the ribs, grumbling from your bed partner, or even moving to the couch or separate bedroom. Snoring happens when air can't flow freely through your throat. Then the noises you make can disrupt your partner's sleep - or your own. You may have an unsafe condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
|
| What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)? |
|
OSA afflicts 20 million adult men and women in the United States. People who have OSA stop breathing repeatedly during sleep because the airway collapses. It is estimated that over 45, 000 people die prematurely each year from OSA.
Airway collapse may be due to such factors as a large tongue, extra tissue in the airway, or decreased muscle tone holding the airway open. As a result, air is prevented from getting into the lungs. These pauses in breathing can happen 30 times or more per hour. When healthy sleep in interrupted in this way, it puts a strain on the heart and can lead to a number of serious health conditions including hypertension, which then leads to congestive heart failure, heart attack or stroke.
|
|
What should you do if you suspect you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
|
|
See your doctor. Evaluation by a doctor specializing in sleep disorders is recommended. Have a sleep study done. A sleep study can provide the doctor with information about how you sleep and breathe. This information will help the doctor to determine your diagnosis and treatment options.
|
|
How do I know if I have OSA?
|
OSA can occur in men, women and children of all ages and sized. Most people who have OSA do not realize they suffer from the condition. Often, it is someone else who witnesses the first signs of OSA. If you or someone you know snores regularly and has one or more of the following symptoms, it may be OSA. Consider all of the following that apply, and share this list with your doctor.
Key signs and symptoms include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Loud or disruptive snoring
- Gasping or choking during sleep
Other common symptoms include:
- Grogginess and morning headaches
- Frequent urination at night
- Dppression and irritability
- Obesity
- Large neck or crowding of the upper airway
- Post-menopausal women
|
| What are the effects of OSA if not treated? |
- Blood Pressure - OSA can greatly increase blood pressure during an apnea (a temporary suspension of breathing).
- Pulse - OSA can cause bradycardia (slow heartbeat rate) during an apnea and then tachycardia (excessively rapid heartbeat) after the event.
- O2 Sats - OSA will cause oxygen saturations to drop after an apneic event.
- Weight - OSA can cause a gradual increase in weight due to slowed metabolism and decrease in activity.
- Alertness - OSA can cause a decrease in alertness due to fragmented sleep and poor sleep quality. This can lead to fatigue related motor vehicle and work accidents.
- Mood - OSA can greatly effect mood by disrupting REM stage and from fatigue.
- Headache - OSA can cause an increase in early morning headaches due to a buildup of CO2.
- Heart disease and heart attack
- Stroke
- Decreased quality of life
|
|
What is the treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
|
The most common treatment is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), pronounced "see-PAP. Other less common treatments include surgery and oral appliances, which may be effective in certain individuals. All treatments should include weight loss, if needed, exercise, and avoidance of alcohol, sedatives, and hypnotics.
PAP therapy will relieve the airway obstruction that occurs while you sleep. PAP treatment can dramatically improve the life of someone diagnosed with sleep apnea. You will need to use your treatment every night while you sleep. Otherwise, you will return to your previous level of snoring, sleep apnea, and daytime tiredness.
When optimum therapy is achieved, you may experience the following benefits of treatment:
- Increased energy level and attentiveness during the day
- Fewer morning headaches
- Reduced irritability
- Inproved memory
- Less waking during the night to go to the bathroom
- Increased ability to exercise
- Increased effectiveness at home or at work
- Improved overall quality of life
|
