Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Impediments to a Good Nights Sleep
Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Impediments to a Good Nights Sleep
Obstructive apnea is a medical condition that is characterized by an obstruction in the sleep caused by cessation of breathing for 10 seconds or more over the night. The common symptoms of Obstructive apnea include loud snoring, fitful sleep and excessive drowsiness during the day. Frequently waking up at night, excessive snoring and the airway collapse that are common features of Obstructive sleep apnea can cause cardiovascular problems later on in life. Though a medical problem usually associated with people who are overweight and have a short neck, obstructive sleep apnea afflicts people who have a normal weight as well. However, it has been observed that people with normal weight who are suffering from Obstructive apnea usually have a small jaw.
Obstructive apnea is often usually is accompanied by other health problems such as hypertension and impotence. Researchers have not been able to conclude whether these conditions are a direct cause of Obstructive sleep apnea or were already present before the patient started suffering from Obstructive apnea. The reason for this uncertainty is that Obstructive sleep apnea is usually seen in people suffering from obesity and obesity related diseases. However, there are certain health hazards that are directly related to Obstructive apnea such as angina, nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias and stroke.
Obstructive apnea often undiagnosed because the patient is not aware of his excessive snoring and nocturnal arousals. A patient who approaches a doctor with symptoms of fatigue and excessive sleepiness during the daytime should be checked for Obstructive apnea. The most reliable test for confirming whether the patient is suffering from Obstructive sleep apnea or not is Polysomnography in a sleep laboratory. This test is expensive and is not readily available at all clinics. Doctors usually confirm their diagnosis by questioning the sleep partner of the person who is suffering from the symptoms of Obstructive apnea.
The treatments of Obstructive sleep apnea vary from weight loss to modification of the jaw or tongue. Continuous positive airway pressure is one of the commonly prescribed treatments for Obstructive apnea. It involves the use of a CPAP machine that delivers air pressure by a nasal mask that the patient has to wear during sleeping. You can also do surgical procedures involving the modification of the airway or jaw are also recommended but are very expensive and most patients would rather opt for the non-invasive techniques.