Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - Symptoms and Diagnosis

Sadly, it is estimated that 95% of sleep disorders are undiagnosed, and millions of Americans are afflicted. Problems with sleeping can range from insomnia, with which most of us are familiar, to narcolepsy, REM sleep disorder, restless leg syndrome and a host of others. One of the most common sleep disorders, and potentially one of the most deadly, is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) usually referred to as sleep apnea.

In fact, sleep apnea affects more than 12 million people in the United States alone. The exact cause of OSA is not clear. Three types of sleep apnea have been identified - obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs most frequently. Approximately 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 35 suffer from OSA.

More About OSA

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused when the airway collapses while the afflicted person is sleeping. This could be dangerous because is causes people to actually stop breathing in their sleep, which can in turn result in further complications, such as high blood pressure and heart problems. People with severe OSA can stop breathing as many as 120 times in a night! Moreover, because the sufferer wakes for at least a few seconds after each episode, they never reach the point of deep sleep required for normal daily functioning.

Excessive weight gain is primarily responsible for the onset of sleep apnea. Age is another factor, along with alcohol and sedative drugs, smoking and nasal congestion.

What Can You Do?

Sleep disorder diagnosis is extremely important, especially when it comes to Obstructive Sleep Apnea. If you think you have symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, it is advisable to ask your doctor about a sleep study for sleep disorder diagnosis. This may require one or more overnight stays at a sleep center. Obviously, the earlier diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can be implemented to reduce both your symptoms and avoid further complications.

Treatment

Fortunately, there are a number of treatment alternatives for those suffering from OSA. These may include weight reduction along with the possibilities of positional therapy, positive pressure therapy, surgery, and oral appliances. Each of these options will be explained to you by the professionals who perform your diagnosis. The study of your particular condition will dictate which one, or a combination, of these approaches will be most beneficial for you.

SleepDisorderChronicle.Com Home | Articles | Contact Us