During episodes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), breathing pauses will last for at least 10 seconds to a few minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. After these pauses, normal breathing starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea refers to a blockage of the upper airway during sleep that causes you to stop breathing periodically.
Obstruction occurs when the base of the tongue presses against the soft palate as you sleep. Because air can not enter the lungs, the blood oxygen level falls below normal.
If you have sleep apnea, you often move out of a deep sleep and into lighter sleep when your breathing pauses or becomes shallow. At this point your brain will tell you to wake up, which you will do with a loud snore. You begin breathing in a normal pattern. This cycle repeats when you go back to sleep throughout the night.
The result is poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness – with consequences such as:
- Fatigue and irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Falling asleep on the job, while driving or watching TV
- Increased risk of traffic accidents and work injuries
Consider the following questions, and discuss OSA with your physician if your answers are positive…
S - Do you Snore loudly?
T - Do you often feel Tired, fatigued or sleepy during the daytime?
O - Has anyone Observed you stop breathing during your sleep?
P - Do you have or are you being treated for high blood Pressure?
Sleep Apnea can be life-threatening. People who do not seek to understand their symptoms and effective treatment for OSA can be at risk for serious health problems. If you have sleep apnea, you need to get treated.