What is obstructive sleep apnea? (and how to prevent it)
Bollywood singer and composer Bappi Lahiri's sudden demise has the whole country enquiring about the condition he had been suffering from. Obstructive sleep apnea is deliberated as a serious medical condition. Among the various types of sleep apnea, the most common is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It occurs when your throat muscles erratically ease and block your airway while sleeping, frequently.
What causes OSA?
OSA happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax more than usual to allow normal breathing. With relaxed muscles, your airway narrows hindering your breathing for 10 seconds or more. This lowers the oxygen level in your blood causing carbon dioxide buildup. As the brain senses this, it briefly reopens your airway, leading you to wake up either snorting or gasping.
Symptoms
People suffering from this condition are unable to get restful sleep and feel sleepy during the day. A noticeable sign of OSA is snoring. Difficulty concentrating and waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat are the other symptoms. People with obstructive sleep apnea often complain of memory problems, mood swings or depression, headaches in the morning, and frequent urination at night.
What puts you at risk?
Most people with OSA are overweight; fat deposits around the upper airway can obstruct breathing. Medical conditions associated with obesity, like hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome, can also cause it. OSA occurs more in those with consistent nasal congestion at night or narrowed airway. OSA is relatively common in people with hypertension, and diabetes. Research has associated asthma with the risk of OSA.
Men more at risk
Generally men are more likely than women to have obstructive sleep apnea. The occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea increases in women after menopause.
Preventive measures
An easy way to prevent OSA is by sleeping on your side. Just losing about 10% of your weight can make a difference in some cases. Restrain from alcohol or sleeping pills as they increase the chances of your airway closing or narrowing during sleep. Nasal sprays can help if sinus problems or congestion make it harder for you to breathe while sleeping.
Medical treatment
Treatment involves using a device that puts pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep. A mouthpiece can also be used to thrust your lower jaw forward during sleep. In some cases, surgery might have to be considered as an option. Surgeries can include any of the following: Somnoplasty, UP3, nasal surgery, and Mandibular/maxillary advancement surgery used only in severe cases.
