Obstructive Sleep Apnea Overview

Sleep apnea is a common sleep condition in which you experience one or more breathing pauses as you sleep. The repeated blockage of your breathing airway causes very little air to reach your lungs. People with sleep apnea often snore or make choking sounds in their sleep. The brain and body also become deprived of oxygen leading to sluggishness and fatigue upon waking up.

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, sleep apnea can go undiagnosed for a long time, and is usually found out by accident. Sleep apnea is caused by the collapse of a small tissue at the back of the throat. During sleep, the muscles in the airway relax. If you are sleeping on your back, then the gravity will cause the tongue to fall back. In turn, this causes the airway to narrow, which also reduces the amount of air that reaches your lungs. This is what leads to snoring and other sounds as you sleep.

Severe sleep apnea can cause you to wake up feeling unrefreshed and tired. As the day progresses you will experience difficulty in concentrating and you may even fall asleep. This is because your body keeps waking up at different times in the night. Severe sleep apnea can lead to long-term negative effects on your health such as high blood pressure, stroke, depression, heart disease and diabetes.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This type of sleep apnea occurs when the airway is partially blocked during sleep. This causes your chest muscles and diaphragm to work extra hard to get air into the obstructed airway.

Below are the most common obstructive symptoms of sleep apnea:

1. Fatigue during the day

2. Sore throat or dry mouth

3. Restlessness at night

4. Headaches upon waking

5. Snoring

6. Sudden waking up during the night

7. Problems with sex

Management

The following methods have been used to effectively manage this type of sleep apnea:

- Sleeping in an upright position, especially for obese patients.

- Restrictions of certain types of sleeping styles especially supine position.

- Avoiding alcohol smoking and sleep deprivation.

Other forms of treatment include using Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure and Oral Appliance Therapy.

CPAP

This is a machine that uses air pressure to help a patient breathe better at night. The increased air pressure helps in preventing the throat from collapsing during sleep. The increased air pressure is delivered through special CPAP masks. Patients express difficulty at first, in getting used to wearing the masks at night. Some patients have to change their masks to find ones that are more suitable for them.

BIPAP

This type of treatment is usually meant for patients who find it hard to breathe against the constant continuous pressure from a CPAP machine. BIPAP offers two forms of pressure, making it easier for patients to breathe out. This machine is prescribed for patients who have low oxygen levels; patients who suffer from cardiopulmonary disorders and certain neuromuscular disorders. It is also used to treat patients who failed to respond to CPAP therapy.


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Christian Rabatsch works at Benchmark Sleep Services, which is a centre dedicated to providing the best sleep disorder treatment service. They not only provide high quality care but also follow up on all patients to ensure they are getting the best out of the treatment products and services. For more information about obstructive sleep apnea simply visit our website at http://www.benchmarksleepservices.com.au/sleep-apnea/ .