No Comments January 19, 2008 – 1:51 am

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that can cause a person to stop breathing at intervals during sleep. This occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway. Breathing cessation can last anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds per incident and may happen up to 400 seconds over the course of a single night with multiple occurrences.

OSA is the most common of all sleep disorders. Approximately 6 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea. Many people do not realize that they suffer from sleep apnea unless someone else brings it to their attention. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, roughly 38,000 cardiovascular deaths annually are in some way related to sleep apnea.

When the muscles inside the throat relax during sleep, gravity then causes the tongue to fall back and block the airway. Blockage of the airway can happen a few times a night or several hundred times per night, causing major disruptions in sleep. Normally a healthy individual’s upper throat muscles ensure that the airflow in and out of the throat is steady and uninterrupted. While asleep, these muscles relax slightly but normally still continue to do their job properly.

People with OSA often snore loudly and may wake up feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep. They often wake up with a headache and may experience rapid weight gain, depression, personality changes and memory loss.

The condition typically occurs to people who are middle aged or older and it is twice as common in men as in women. Obese men have an increased risk of developing OSA. That is because the neck gets thicker as people gain weight. With more fat in the throat, the airway is more likely to be blocked.

One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is known as continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. This is essentially a system that blows air through a mask that gets placed over your nose. The air from the machine passes through the nose, where it flows down the throat and into the lungs. This helps to keep the airways open and clear.

If you suspect you have symptoms of sleep apnea you should talk to your doctor. Many physicians prescribe sleep studies to help determine best treatment for a patient’s sleep apnea.