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Obstructive sleep Apnea(OSA) In
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What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) have repeated episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the throat (also known as the “pharynx” or “upper airway”) during sleep. A narrow floppy throat is also more likely to vibrate during sleep, which causes snoring. If partial or complete obstructions occur breathing is reduced or stops for a short time –from 10 seconds up to a minute or more – and blood oxygen levels fall as a result. A brief interruption to sleep (an arousal) that lasts for as little as 3 seconds then occurs, allowing breathing to start again but your sleep is disrupted as a result. These episodes of obstruction may happen many times –even hundreds of times – overnight. Some people know that their breathing is not normal at night but may be unaware that this is a medical problem that is causing them harm. Fortunately, good treatments are available.
What are the symptoms?
If you have OSA you may snore, toss and turn and others may notice that you stop breathing during the night. Because of the disruptive effects of OSA on sleep you may find yourself waking up often during the night, sometimes gasping or choking, although this does not always happen. However, even if there are few awakenings overnight, sleep is disturbed and you may be unrefreshed by it because of this. As the day goes on, you may struggle to stay awake, especially in the afternoon. Grumpiness and other mood changes are common in untreated OSA.
Why should you worry if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea symptoms?
OSA disturbs your sleep and is a stress on your body. There is strong evidence that people with untreated moderate to severe OSA have other health problems. There is strong evidence that people with untreated moderate to severe OA have other health problems. These include increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, depression and accidents. Thinking is less clear, mood is down and productivity at work and at home suffer.
OSA causes motor vehicle accidents
People with OSA are approximately two and half times more likely to have a motor vehicle accident than those without it. Broken night-time sleep leads to less alertness, slower reaction times, poorer concentration and more chance of falling asleep at the wheel. The risk of work accidents is increased if your job involves operating machinery or transport.
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea affects families
Snoring can keep a bed partner awake and sometimes people in other parts of the house. Some partners try to stay awake to make sure that the person with OSA starts breathing again after a breathing pause. Lack of sleep may make people who are living with a person with OSA grumpier and more irritable. OSA is a problem not only for the person with it, but also other family members.
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