Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that is characterized by interruptions in breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat closes during sleep. Since obstructive sleep apnea causes the sleeper to stop breathing, the sleeper is awaken by the need to breath. Hundreds of these suffocating and awaking cycles can occur each night.

Obstructive sleep apnea has many serious side effects. Since obstructive sleep apnea decreases oxygen saturation in blood, it can cause:

• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
• Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have enlarged and thickened hearts that pump less effectively

Furthermore, since obstructive sleep apnea awakens the sleeper even for a brief moment, the sleep causes excessive daytime sleepiness, and other symptoms of fatigue.

The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea includes:

• Waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat
• Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
• Sleepiness during the day
• Morning headaches
• Forgetfulness, mood changes and a decreased interest in sex
• Recurrent awakenings or insomnia
• Snoring

It has been estimated that obstructive sleep apnea causes 50,000 premature and preventable deaths may occur each year. Obstructive sleep apnea causes cardiovascular diseases and fatigue, which can come in the from of dozing off while driving a car or operating dangerous machineries.



In conclusion, obstructive sleep apnea is a serious disease. If you think you or your roommate, parnter, or anyone else has obstructive sleep apnea, find medical help as soon as possible.

*Information thanks to:
WebMD
The Stanford Sleep Book by Dr. Dement
Medicine World