What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is very common; symptoms include loud snoring and daytime fatigue. The good news is that OSA can be easily diagnosed and successfully treated. After treatment, many individuals have found an improved quality of life and increased energy levels.
Successful Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) treatment provides improvements in:
- Vitality and motivation
- Job performance
- Mood
- Sexual drive and performance
- Alertness while driving
- Quality of life
Listen to the Sound of Sleep Apnea
How common is OSA?
A study shows that 1 in 5 adults (20%) has mild OSA and 1 in 15 (6.6%) have at least moderate OSA. OSA affects people of all ages, including children. The condition affects both males and females.
A study (SLEEP, Vol.31, No.8, 2008) published in June, 2008 suggests that 75% of patients with severe Sleep Disordered Breathing are undiagnosed.
How do I know if I have OSA?
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Loud snoring
- Feeling tired and exhausted during the day
- Pauses in your breathing during sleep
- Unrefreshing sleep
Take the Sleep Apnea Test! (This test can be printed out and discussed with your physician.)
Why am I tired?
In some individuals, the airway muscles relax and narrow during sleep causing snoring. If they relax too much, they could completely block the throat; this will prevent airflow into the lungs and is called an Apnea.
If the throat becomes blocked, you must actually wake up to open the throat muscles and take a breath. Often, individuals don't remember the awakening, however this disrupts your sleep causing fatigue the following day.
Refer to the diagrams below:
- Normal airway
- Snoring
- Airway blocked
- CPAP Treatment
What’s the next step?
Contact Us
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