Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. It occurs when something blocks your upper airways while you sleep. The brain detects this obstructed breathing and briefly wakes you up so that you can reopen your airways. Your diaphragm and chest muscles must work harder to open your airways and pull air into your lungs. Your breathing may become very shallow, or you may even stop breathing for a short period of time. You usually start breathing again with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk. This condition can cause a decrease in the amount of oxygen in your blood as well as a buildup of carbon dioxide. These disruptions impair your ability to enter the deep, restful phases of sleep and you will most likely feel sleepy during the daytime. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea may be unaware that their sleep is being disrupted and that they haven't slept well all night.

OSA can affect anyone. Excess weight, older age, a narrowed airway, high blood pressure (hypertension), chronic nasal congestion, smoking, diabetes, a family history of sleep apnea, and asthma are all risk factors. It is also considered a serious medical condition that may lead to daytime fatigue and sleepiness, cardiovascular problems, complications with medications and surgery, including eye problems. Excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, night sweats, observed episodes of stopped breathing while sleeping, abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking, awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat, difficulty concentrating during the day, mood changes such as irritability, and high blood pressure are all signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. People with obstructive sleep apnea may also complain of memory problems, morning headaches, mood swings or depression, and a need to urinate frequently at night.

Snoring does not always indicate a potentially serious problem, and not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea. To treat obstructive sleep apnea, losing weight can make a difference. You should also avoid drinking alcohol or taking sleeping pills. These make your airway more likely to close while sleeping and it can keep you from breathing for longer periods. When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your snoring is usually loudest when you sleep on your back. Sleeping on your side can help when you experience only mild sleep apnea. Surgery may also help people who have extra or uneven tissue that blocks airflow through the nose or throat. If you snore loudly, wake up gasping or choking, pause in your breathing during sleep, or experience excessive daytime drowsiness, please consult your doctor. It is also important to talk to a medical professional if you are experiencing chronic fatigue, sleepiness, or irritability as a result of a sleep disorder.

- PNFP Rowence F. Zorilla, RND

References:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obstructive-sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20352090#:~:text=Obstructive%20sleep%20apnea%20occurs%20when,breathing%20is%20momentarily%20cut%20off.

2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/understanding-obstructive-sleep-apnea-syndrome