Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a serious condition where the muscles in the throat relax during sleep causing the sufferer to temporarily stop breathing. If untreated it can occur hundreds of times in a night leading to daytime fatigue and other serious health problems. Once diagnosed it can be easily treated.
Basically, Obstructive sleep apnoea is caused by the blockage of the upper respiratory tract during sleep. This condition is caused by obstruction. Mostly, this is caused with a sudden cessation of breathing in the middle of deep sleep, which makes us wakeup suddenly.
Sometimes, these episodes last only for 5 to 10 seconds, but they can also be more than a minute long. Usually, obstructive sleep apnoea occurs only once or twice per night, but if it happens more than 5 times an hour in children and more than 30 times in adults it means that you have a severe form of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
What exactly is sleep apnoea ?
Apnoea is a breathing pause of at least 10 second.
Hypoapnoea is a 10 second event where there is continuous breathing but ventilation is reduced by at least 50 % from the previous baseline during sleep.
Sleep apnoea is the most common cause of excessive day time sleepiness. Sleep apnoea or apnea is a disorder characterized by a reduction or cessation (pause of breathing, airflow) during sleep. It is common among adults but rare among children.
There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnoea and the central sleep apnoea. Most Common of the two is obstructive sleep apnoea also called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea/ Hypoapnoea syndrome (OSAHS).
When there is no airflow but there is effort to breathe, the apnea is called “Obstructive”. When there is no airflow but no respiratory effort the apnoea is called “Central”. Mixed apnoeas start with no effort but effort develops during the course of the apnoea.
Signs and symptoms of OSA:
* Excessive drowsiness during the day
* Snoring loudly
* Frequent shortness of breath during sleep
* Stopping breathing and waking up suddenly
* Dry throat or mouth during waking hours
Severe headache in the morning
* Lack of concentration during the day
Important Posts to read:
Treatment for Sleep Apnoea
Thanks a lot for reading, hope you have understood about Apnoea (Sleep Apnea) disesase, symptoms and its treatments.
Please share your comments /suggestions below, as always stay fit and healthy
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