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Sleep Apnea Can Stop Breathing for 10 Seconds!

By Medical Expert Team

Oct 04 , 2016 | 2 min read

Know what is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Struggling to breathe, stress on heart and brain, night after night disrupted sleep, tiredness, low productivity, disturbed relationships are a few conditions that may develop every time an “Apnea” occurs.

You must be thinking how Apnea can cause breathing problems- Here’s how!

Normally, the muscles that control the upper airway relax during sleep. In case they relax too much, the upper airway becomes narrow and then some people begin to sore, causing breathing difficulties. Sometimes, the airway becomes completely blocked and the person can temporarily stop breathing, experiencing an “Obstructive Sleep Apnea” that can last for 10 seconds or more. It may happen frequently, several times at night.

Symptoms/Complaints of OSA

Witnessed apneas, choking or gasping during sleep, headaches, sore throat, and dry mouth in the morning, frequent urination at night.
Loss of motivation, mood disturbance, diminished sex drive, reduced work efficiency.
Poor concentration, poor memory.
Short periods of uncontrolled sleep during day.
Daytime sleepiness/fatigue.
High blood pressure
Loud snoring

How does Sleep Study help?

Sleep study is a test that records a variety of body functions during sleep such as apnea and hypo-apnea events, blood oxygen level, heart rate, brain activity, air flow, thoracic movements, body position and snoring. These tests are used both to diagnose sleep pattern as well as determine the severity of obstruction.

Serious Risks to your health

More than 35% people with sleep anpea suffer from high blood pressure or can have an increasing risk of high blood pressure.
83% people, who continue to suffer from high blood pressure despite taking three or more drugs, also have sleep apnea.
Almost 70% people who have had a stroke have sleep apnea.
A person with sleep apnea is seven times more likely to have a car accident.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

If you have a mild apnea condition, the doctor will suggest you to lose weight or have an active lifestyle. But if you have nasal congestions, your physician will devise a treatment plan for your allergies. In case, you do not feel there is any improvement, there are several other treatments that are available.

The condition is treatable! There are very effective and accepted treatments for Obstructive Sleep Anpea:

Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy.
Surgical Management

What is Sleep Endoscopy?

Sleep endoscopy is a special procedure that determines exactly where an upper airway obstruction is localized during OSA or snoring while person is sleeping. Areas that will specifically be examined are nose, soft plate, uvula, back of the tongue, throat, epiglottis, voice box.

Do not let Snoring ruin your goodnight’s sleep!