Obstructive Sleep Apnea
There are several types of sleep apnea. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – a potentially serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This type of apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Snoring is often associated with OSA. Not all snorers have OSA, but if snoring is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, it’s time to have a medical provider evaluate you for OSA:
- Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
- Gasping or choking at night while sleeping
- Sore throat upon awakening
- Restless sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Morning headaches
- High blood pressure
- Chest pain at night
- Snoring so loud that it disrupts your partner's sleep
OSA often is characterized by loud snoring followed by periods of silence when breathing stops or nearly stops. Eventually, this pause in breathing may signal you to wake up, and you may awaken with a loud snort or gasping sound. You may sleep lightly due to disrupted sleep. This pattern of breathing pauses may be repeated many times during the night.
People with obstructive sleep apnea usually experience periods when breathing slows or stops at least five times during every hour of sleep.
In addition to disrupted sleeping patterns, OSA can cause decreased oxygen supply to the brain, heart and other vital organs. OSA is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to stroke, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.
Risk Factors
- Being a man. Men are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea than are women
- Being overweight. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to snore or have obstructive sleep apnea
- Having a narrow airway. Some people may have a long soft palate, or large tonsils or adenoids, which can narrow the airway and cause snoring
- Drinking alcohol. Alcohol relaxes your throat muscles, increasing the risk of snoring
- Having nasal problems. If you have a structural defect in your airway, such as a deviated septum, or your nose is chronically congested, your risk of snoring is greater
- Having a family history of snoring or obstructive sleep apnea. Heredity is a potential risk factor for OSA
Treatment
Obstructive sleep apnea is treatable and covered by most insurance. Mild conditions can often be treated with lifestyle modifications such as exercise, weight loss, limiting alcohol and medications, using nasal decongestant or simply avoiding sleeping on your back. If you have a moderate to severe case, a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, oral sleep devices or surgery can help open blocked airways. For more information contact Mat-Su Regional Medical Center’s Sleep Disorders Center.
Schedule an Appointment
If you would like to schedule an appointment, please speak to your primary care physician for a referral. If you have additional questions or would like more information please contact Mat-Su Regional Medical Center’s Sleep Disorders Center at (907) 352-2822 or complete the contact form below.
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