Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in adults is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow during sleep, often due to airway obstruction, leading to daytime sleepiness and other health issues. The blockage and lack of airflow can cause your blood oxygen levels to drop. This triggers a survival reflex in your brain that wakes you up just enough to breathe again. While that reflex is key in keeping you breathing, it also disrupts your sleep.

If you have frequent wakeups at night, you won’t feel rested in the morning. That can lead to a wide range of symptoms, many of which can affect your daytime functioning. Over time, these symptoms can lead to dangerous and sometimes life-threatening complications.

Symptoms:

Loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep (observed by others), excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and difficulty concentrating.

Causes:

OSA occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much, causing the airway to narrow or collapse during sleep.

Risk Factors:

Obesity, older age, male sex, family history, certain medical conditions (like hypertension, diabetes), and structural abnormalities of the upper airway.

Two tests can help diagnose OSA, including:

• Overnight sleep study (polysomnogram): This is an overnight test where you sleep in a medical facility where they monitor your sleep.
• Home sleep apnea testing: This is similar to an overnight sleep study but doesn’t involve brain wave monitoring and other types of sensors and you get to stay home.

Treatment:

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the primary treatment for OSA, using a machine to deliver pressurized air through a mask worn during sleep to keep the airways open.

Other Treatment Options:

Lifestyle modifications (weight loss, avoiding alcohol and smoking), oral appliances, and surgery in some cases.

How can obstructive sleep apnea be prevented?

You can’t prevent all cases of OSA. But you can take steps to reduce your risk and improve your overall sleep by:

• Eating nutritious foods and participating in regular physical activities
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Practicing good sleep hygiene (like setting a bedtime routine and turning off electronic devices before bed)
• Managing any existing health conditions, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes
• Not smoking and not drinking beverages that contain alcohol before bed
• Seeing your healthcare provider annually for a check-up
• Outlook / Prognosis