Health Benefits

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

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Sleep Apnea is a term that most of us have heard of. Many people associate it with snoring, and some may believe that people who snore have sleep apnea. But let’s dig deeper into this condition and learn more about it.

Sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder marked by episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction during sleep. This condition causes a decrease in the oxygen content of the blood as well as sleep fragmentation, which is characterized by repeated short interruptions of sleep. Because of this airway obstruction, the typical symptoms of having sleep apnea are snoring and fatigue during the day as a result of chronic sleep deprivation.

What are the consequences of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

The primary effect of this condition is a decrease in sleep quality. This causes daytime drowsiness and fatigue, as well as cognitive dysfunction and poor work performance. This condition has also been linked to other conditions such as systemic hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Certain studies have also found that men who suffer from sleep apnea have significantly lower testosterone levels than those who do not.

What factors contribute to sleep apnea?

Age, obesity, family history, craniofacial abnormalities, heavy cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption are all risk factors for this condition. This condition also has a male predominance. Menopause, in particular, can be a risk factor for women. However, it is important to remember that these are only risk factors that may increase your vulnerability to the disorder, not the actual causes.

Children’s symptoms may be less obvious. They could include:

These symptoms can also be caused by a variety of other medical conditions. Consult with your doctor to rule them out.

How do we treat Sleep Apnea?

Although this is a serious disease, it frequently goes undetected. Sleeping partners can assist in reporting any irregularities during the night, such as heavy snoring and/or breathing problems/pauses in sleep. Early detection aids in the provision of appropriate and effective therapy for those suffering from sleep apnea, allowing them to avoid serious health consequences.

Milder forms of this condition would be treated with the following:

If these methods do not improve symptoms, or if the case of sleep apnea is severe, various treatments/devices are available. The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which you put on before going to bed, is one of the most common and reliable methods. To keep the upper airways open, this machine delivers air pressure through a mask.

Other methods include Oral Appliances, which are designed to keep your throat open, and Supplemental Oxygen machines, which are used to compensate for the lack of oxygen while sleeping. These are just a few of the treatments and therapies available to help with this condition.

When should you see a doctor?

Snoring can be a sign of a serious problem, but not everyone with sleep apnea snores. If you have signs or symptoms of sleep apnea, consult your doctor,if you are tired, sleepy, or irritable due to a sleep disorder.

Causes

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

This occurs as a result of your throat’s back muscles relaxing. These muscles support the tonsils, the side walls of the throat, the tongue, and the triangular piece of tissue (uvula) hanging from the soft palate.

When you relax your muscles, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in. You’re not getting enough oxygen in your blood because you’re not getting enough air. Your brain awakens you temporarily when it notices that you are having trouble breathing so you can reopen your airway. This awakening is usually so brief that you will forget about it.

You may sneeze, choke, or gasp. This pattern can repeat itself five to thirty times or more per hour, all night, impairing your ability to achieve deep, restful sleep.

Central obstructive sleep apnea

When your brain is unable to communicate with your breathing muscles, sleep apnea of this kind develops. This implies that you stop trying to breathe for a little while. You can have trouble falling or staying asleep, or you might wake up with breathing problems.

Risk elements

Anyone, including children, can suffer from sleep apnea. However, certain factors raise your risk.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

The following factors increase the risk of this type of sleep apnea:

Central obstructive sleep apnea

Risk factors for this kind of sleep apnea include the following:

Heart problems Congestive heart failure raises the risk.

Complications

Sleep apnea is a potentially fatal medical condition. Possible complications include:

Takeaway

As you can see, this is not a situation to be taken lightly. It is difficult to detect, so enlist the assistance of your sleeping partner. If they notice any irregularities while you sleep, you should consult your doctor to investigate further and intervene as soon as possible if necessary.

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