Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a health condition whereby breathing is interrupted during sleep. Here are the things that you should know about this sleeping disorder:
What are the risk factors?
- obesity
- large tonsils
- a large tongue, which can block the airway
- a narrow palate or airway that collapses more easily
- smoking
What are the symptoms?
- loud snoring
- periods where you stop breathing during your sleep, as witnessed by another person
- waking up abruptly with a shortness of breath
- waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth
- headaches in the morning
If left untreated, Obstructive Sleep Apnea may lead to these health conditions:
- hypertension
- heart disease
- stroke
- diabetes
- atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm)
What are the treatments?
- Weight management and exercise are recommended for people who are overweight or obese.
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy whereby a face mask is worn during sleep. The face mask gently delivers positive airflow to keep the airways open throughout the night.
- Surgical treatment is recommended for people who have severe, surgically correctable, obstructing lesion of the upper airway.
To conclude, snoring doesn’t necessarily indicate something potentially serious, and not everyone who snores has Obstructive Sleep Apnea. However, do consult a doctor if you notice a decline in your sleep quality and it has affected your daily activities.
Source:
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/cpap/how-to-use-cpap-machine https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2019/what-is-sleep-apnea.html
