Many of us take a good night's sleep for granted. We sleep peacefully through the night, blissfully unaware that up to 9% of the adult population struggle to sleep with a frightening and potentially life threatening disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Up to 80% of these people are undiagnosed. Worse still many of these people are completely unaware of their condition – oblivious to the reason for their tiredness and lesser quality of life. This link is designed to help people who have been diagnosed with OSA and their families understand more about the condition and the means by which it is treated.
What exactly is OSA?
Normal
During normal sleep most of our muscles are in a relaxed state, however the muscles that control the airway maintain some muscle tone in order to hold the airway open for us to breathe.
Snoring
In some instances the airway muscles relax too much causing the airway to narrow slightly. Partial collapse will often result in snoring. Snoring is the noise generated by the soft/floppy parts of the throat vibrating as air passes through during breathing. During snoring the airway has narrowed slightly but this does not severely reduce the airflow while breathing.
Apneas, Hypopneas and OSA
Similarly in people with OSA the airway muscles relax too much, however the airway narrowing is more significant than in snoring and causes a slight or full reduction in airflow to the lungs. A partial airway collapse associated with a reduction in airflow is called a "hypopnea". A complete airway collapse associated with complete cessation of airflow to the lungs is called an "apnea".
Normal Obstructed
When the airway is blocked OSA sufferers will wake either partially or completely to breathe again. This can occur up to several hundred times a night, causing severe disruption to their sleep and daytime sleepiness. Often the sleeper is completely unaware of these repeated awakenings and it is the bed-partner that observes them struggling for breath in their sleep. However, some people may experience a feeling of choking or gasping for breath. Untreated OSA may lead to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. The daytime sleepiness can also lead to road or workplace accidents.
(The terms hypopnea and apnea are derived from the Greek words "HYPO", meaning below normal, "A", meaning absence or lack of, and "PNEA", meaning to breathe. (literally "below normal breath" and "absence of breath")).
Symptoms of OSA:
- Loud Snoring
- Witnessed apneas/choking sensation when sleeping
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Partner reports Breathing Pauses
- Morning headaches
- Restless Sleep
- Depression
- Poor concentration
- Loss of memory
- Sexual dysfunction
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