Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition where the sufferer stops breathing due to a blockage or a collapsing airway. Sometimes known as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, it is the most common type of sleep apnea. It is characterized by repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep, despite the effort to breathe, and is usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. These breathing stoppages, called apneas (literally, “without breath”), can typically last 20 to 40 seconds.
The most common blockage is at the base of the tongue. When the jaw falls down and back, the tongue rises off the floor of the mouth. If the sufferer is a mouth breather then the tongue can be pushed to the back of the throat blocking the airway. Even if the sufferer is a nasal breather the base of the tongue can cause an obstruction against the back of the throat, enough to stop the sufferer from breathing and causing an apnea episode.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Common signs of obstructive sleep apnea include unexplained daytime sleepiness, restless sleep, and loud snoring. A large neck or collar size is strongly associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Ingestion of alcohol or sedatives before sleep may predispose to episodes of apnea.
An OSA sufferer is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. It is usually recognized by others witnessing the individual during episodes or is suspected because of its effects on the body (sequelae). Snoring is a common symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. However, symptoms may be present for years, even decades without identification, during which time the individual may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and and general fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance. Indeed people who sleep alone may never be told about their sleep disorder symptoms!
The Effects Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Since the muscle tone of the body ordinarily relaxes during sleep, and in the throat the human airway is composed of walls of soft tissue, which can collapse, it is easy to understand how breathing can be obstructed during sleep. A blockage in one area of the passage, for instance the nose, can cause a lowering of pressure elsewhere, which can cause the airway to collapse. When a person is asleep, it is thought that the muscles just become too relaxed and they become prone to collapse when there is any sort of blockage. Another theory suggests that the body is responding to an out of balance breathing system.
If a sufferer over breathes by deep, fast breathing she doesn’t over oxygenate the body, as the body only takes what is required, but she tends to blow off too much carbon dioxide. This increases the pH of the blood. One of the many responses of the body to an increasing pH level is to constrict the smooth muscles of the body and produce more mucus. This narrows the breathing passages and along tends to clog the nose. These two events alone make the sufferer more susceptible to obstructive sleep apnea.
Treatments For Obstructive Sleep Apnea
OSA is a common condition in many parts of the world. When studied carefully in a sleep lab by polysomnography, it is estimated that approximately 1 in 5 American adults has at least mild OSA. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is more frequent than central sleep apnea. If you think you have OSA, your doctor may send you for tests at one of the many Sleep Apnea Centers
There are many Stop Snoring Devices available, but the usual treatment for obstructive sleep apnea starts with an oral device called a manibular advancement device, which is a bit like a mouth guard as used in sports.
Similar but less invasive is a jaw supporter that fits around the head. These are designed to keep the jaw from falling back and stop the tongue from sliding backwards and causing a blockage.
These are relatively inexpensive and if they work, they work. If not the sufferer is normally put onto a cpap (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.
The CPAP machine stops the upper airway becoming narrow by delivering a stream of compressed air via a hose to a nasal pillow, nose mask, full-face mask, or hybrid, splinting the airway (keeping it open under air pressure) so that unobstructed breathing becomes possible, therefore reducing and/or preventing apneas.
Many people with sleep apnea breathe through their mouth because their nose always blocks at night. Using breathing exercises to keep the nasal passages free maybe of some benefit in stopping sleep apnea obstructive. Other treatments include snoring exercises that retrain the jaw and throat muscles to stop the jaw dropping open during sleep.
Surgery? There is no clear evidence that surgery is a good option. Results are varied with some cases reported to be worse afterward than beforehand.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms? Call your Doctor!
It is recommended that you call your health care provider if you have excessive daytime sleepiness, or if you or your family notice symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. If you have this condition, call your doctor. Call if your Obstructive Sleep Apnea symptoms do not improve with treatment or if new symptoms develop.
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