Sleep Apnea

 
 

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious condition in which a person stops breathing during sleep. There are several types of sleep apnea, but the most common is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). For those with sleep apnea, collapsed tissue within the throat obstructs the airway resulting in interrupted breathing during sleep. When the airway is obstructed, the body partially awakens to resume breathing, in some cases hundreds of times per night. This interrupts the sleep cycle, preventing truly restful sleep which leads to feeling tired, grumpy and all of the symptoms listed above.

  • Pauses in breathing typically last 10 seconds
  • Severe cases may last up to 30 seconds
  • Loud snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea
  • Pauses can recur throughout the sleep cycle
  • May result in frequent awakenings and sleep fragmentation

OSA is an alarmingly common condition. It is estimated that nearly 1 in 5 American adults has mild OSA and 1 in 15 has moderate to severe OSA1. As many as 60 million Americans could be living with undiagnosed OSA and not even know it.

OSA can leave you feeling tired all day, cause fatigued driving and lower your productivity, but these are not the only dangers. Left untreated, OSA puts added stress on the body and immune system. Chronic lack of sleep can exacerbate existing conditions, increasing the likelihood of adverse events. Research findings report that Sleep apnea is commonly associated with other serious medical conditions like:

  • Obesity
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Heart-failure
  • Depression
  • Stroke

OSA is a widespread health problem, with potentially life threatening consequences if left untreated. For these reasons it is crucial that anyone experiencing symptoms be screened and tested for OSA. Intervening early can prevent progression of the disease and improve overall health, reducing other problems.

ARE YOU AT RISK?

  • Do you snore loudly?
  • Do you frequently feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day?
  • Has anyone observed you stop or pause breathing in your sleep?
  • Do you have high blood pressure?
  • Are you overweight?
  • Are you 50 years of age or older?
  • Is your neck size greater than 16 inches?
  • Are you male?

If you answered yes to 2 or more of these questions you should call us and have your sleep health evaluated. Want to know more? Take a moment and fill out our sleep health evaluation online, test results are available to you immediately.