One in every twelve adults in the United States suffers from a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. About 10% of the American population suffers from mild OSA and around 75-80% of these cases remain unidentified. With its high prevalence globally, obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders.
According to sleep specialists, acknowledgment of this condition followed by efficient management and treatment would greatly reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases across the world.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Interrupted breathing patterns due to blockage of the upper airway during sleep is known as obstructive sleep apnea. The human body requires uninterrupted sleep for up to 8 hours every day to function normally, and people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are unable to have a quality life standard due to disrupted sleep cycles.
Although this is a condition most commonly diagnosed in older males, it is seen to affect people of all genders and age groups. Moreover, a sudden surge in OSA cases has been seen in women post-menopause.
In OSA, repetitive relaxation of the tissues in the throat causes the upper airway to collapse. The blocked airway results in a pause in breathing called an apneic episode. Although it is reported that many patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea do not know that their air passage is being cut off in their sleep, they are likely to notice a reduced sleep quality and its consequences.
What Are The Symptoms Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
While there are several types of sleep apnea, such as central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea, the latter is the most common. People who are essentially diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or OSA show symptoms of:
- Abrupt Awakenings Due To Choking
- Breathing Through The Mouth, Instead Of Breathing Through The Nose During Sleep
- Gasping For Breath During Visible Episodes
- Increased Blood Pressure
- Loud Snoring
- Night Sweats
- Sleep Terrors
- Sleeping In Unusual Positions
The above-mentioned symptoms last only through the night. However, other symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are usually experienced during the day and hinder their daily routine.
- Emotional Behaviour
- Excessive Sleepiness During The Day
- Impulsiveness
- Irritability
- Morning Headaches
- Mood Swings
- Poor Memory
- Reduced Attention Span
- Reduced Libido
Sleep apnea in children could be a cause of underlying health conditions. It could be because of a neurological defect or a genetic disorder. Whatever may be the case, the hallmark of sleep apnea is snoring. You can differentiate obstructive sleep apnea from central sleep apnea via snoring.
However, not all children suffering from sleep apnea exhibit snoring symptoms, and not all children who snore have sleep apnea. We suggest visiting the doctor if you think your child is showing symptoms of sleep apnea.
How To Tell If You Have Symptoms Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Since most of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are shown in normal children as well, it is important to look out for some particular ones. These include:
- excessive and unmanageable drowsiness and fatigue during the day
- pauses in breathing during sleep
- unusually loud snoring
- waking up choking or gasping
OSA is more common among older men of Hispanic, Black, or Native American origin. Other than these risk factors, asthma, diabetes, cigarette smoking, a history of increased blood pressure, and obesity also contribute to the likelihood of a person developing OSA in their adulthood.
If you feel any of the above-mentioned symptoms and consider yourself at risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea, we suggest visiting a doctor at the earliest and getting a diagnosis and treatment for your condition.
How Do You Diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
A doctor is likely to take background information and medical history to evaluate whether the person could have a possibility of obstructive sleep apnea. Examination of the patient is likely to include a thorough check of your vitals, the head and neck area, and an evaluation of your sleep habits.
If the said person presents with interrupted breathing during their sleep and other nighttime and daytime symptoms, the doctor may prescribe polysomnography for a diagnosis of OSA.
Polysomnography is a sleep study that is performed overnight under the observation of doctors and sleep specialists at a sleep clinic.
With definitive results provided by this test method, the doctor is then able to reach a diagnosis of OSA and start appropriate treatment. Other tests that a doctor may feel the need to carry out on their patient include an EEG, EOM, EMG, ECG, or Pulse oximetry.
These tests are concerned with measuring your airflow, breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart rate and rhythm, and muscle activity of your limbs during sleep.
What Are The Complications Of Osa?
Since OSA drastically decreases one’s attention span during the daytime and increases mood swings, people are likely to face difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships. Other ways in which OSA affects and decreases the quality of life include:
- Eye Problems, Such As Dry Eye And Glaucoma
- Cardiovascular Complications, Such As Increased Blood Pressure, Abnormal Heart Rhythms, Or A Heart Attack
- Problems With Metabolism, Such As Diabetes Type Ii
- Problems With Pregnancy, Such As Low Birth-Weight Babies
Conclusion
It is imperative to visit the doctor if you start showing any unusual symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. While CPAP in OSA is one of the best standard treatments, it can only be carried out after you have received your proper diagnosis of OSA
