Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Stages

• First, the airway collapses.
• Second, an effort is made to take a breath, but is unsuccessful.
• Third, the oxygen level in the blood drops.
• Finally, when the amount of oxygen reaching the brain decreases, the brain signals the body to wake up and take a breath.

Who are prone to Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Adults most likely to have obstructive sleep apnea who

• Snore loudly
• Are overweight
• Have high blood pressure
• Have decreased size of the airways in their nose, throat, or mouth. This can be caused by the shape of these structures or by medical conditions causing congestion in these areas, such as hay fever or other allergies.
• Have a family history of sleep apnea.
  

Normal Breathing: Airway is open Air flows freely to lungs

OSA: Airway collapses Blocked air flow

CPAP Therapy: Airway splinted open Air flows freely to lungs

In obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles of the soft palate around the base of the tongue and the uvula relax, obstructing the airway. The airway obstruction causes the level of oxygen in the blood to fall, increases the stress on the heart, elevates blood pressure, and prevents the patient from entering "REM sleep", the restful and restorative stage of sleep. In other words, obstructive sleep apnea causes deprivation of quality sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis methods

The diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is made by a test commonly called a sleep study or polysomnogram . It requires an overnight stay. The study measures multiple body functions, which includes your efforts at breathing, oxygen levels, heart rhythms and EEG while you are asleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea – Non Surgical Treatment Methods

Obstructive sleep apnea is often treated by non-surgical methods. The standard non-surgical treatment is called continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP ). Through a mask, the CPAP device pushes room air into the breathing passage, which temporarily prevents the collapse of the airway. CPAP is not a cure, but a support measure. As such, when CPAP is not used nocturnal obstruction to breathing will occur again.

Obstructive sleep apnea –Surgical Treatment Methods

Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated successfully by surgery. Hence, one can avoid or eliminate the need for CPAP usage for those people who cannot tolerate the treatment.

The basic surgical procedure for obstructive sleep apnea is to open the one or more sites of obstruction to breathing typically at the nose, palate or tongue base.

Some of the obstructive sleep apnea surgical procedures are well known such as removal of the tonsils or trimming of the soft palate or straightening the crooked septum.

Other less known techniques enlarges the breathing passage behind the tongue. This may entail operation directly on the tongue tendons or indirectly on the jaw.

The type of obstructive sleep apnea surgery that you are offered is designed specifically for your particular problem since the blockage to breathing does not always occur in the same location.

Various combinations of procedures are sometimes required in order to open the multiple areas of blockage. Snoring can also be eliminated allowing restful sleep for spouses and other family members.