What Is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious, in some cases life-threatening
condition that effects conservatively 2% of women and 4% of men.
It is often confused with snoring, but is actually an interruption in
breathing for periods greater than 10 seconds while you sleep.
This is usually most obvious to the sufferer's bed partner, because there are long pauses in breathing (and
snoring), broken up by loud gasps for air, then snoring and then
silence again as the process repeats itself. This process can often occur
50 or more times an hour, which places enormous stress on the apneic's
cardiovascular well being.
There are
several anatomical factors that can contribute to your OSA that are
typically closely related to weight and age. Apneas occur when
the tissues in your upper airway close off, due to increased
loss of muscle tone during sleep. Major points of obstruction
include your nose, soft palate, tongue and upper airway.
How Do I Find Out If I
have OSA?
Your physician
will most likely give you a brief questionairre and a physical
examination. If your physician suspects that you might suffer
from sleep apnea,
he or she will advise you to undergo a sleep study, known as a
Polysomnography.
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