- OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA - One of the most common sleep disorder
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder in our society.
OSA often remains unrecognized and untreated by the specialists, despite the evolution of medicine over the last years.
How can you recognize obstructive apnea syndrome?
Firstly, you need to see this video to be sure that you understand what I am writing here. If a picture is worth a thousand words, sleep apnea videos can some times leave you speechless.
OSA is caused by a blockage in the airway. This blockage can result from a combination of biological factors and deficiencies in the breathing reflex, such as:
enlarged adenoids
loss of the muscle tone in the tongue and throat
abnormality in the breathing reflex during sleep
abnormal structure of the nose (deviated nasal septum)
enlarged tonsils
enlarged uvula (the small tissue that dangles in your throat)
an unusually small airway opening
a short neck or short lower jaw.
A combination of these features can help cause OSA.
Hint: Did you know that such abnormalities can be seen in head radiograph of people with OSA?
Another factor that cause obstructive sleep apnea is
body weight.
The main reason is that overweight people have fatty deposits in the throat tissue. This fat can narrow the upper airway.
Another reason is the poor operation of the breathing reflexes, due to extra weight on the abdomen muscles.
In conclusion, pay attention at your body weight, because obesity is the strongest risk factor for OSA.
You do know you can't diagnose sleep apnea without help, right?
Most of the time, your bed partner see that you have breathing problems in sleep, like loud snoring or pauses in breathing.
Here a short description of
obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis
for your bed partner or who lives with you. You can find this lesson with symptoms a good tip for your partner. Help him to help you!
Treatment for Obstructive Apnea
OSA is treated by removing the blockage of the airway. This can be done by
It is very important to a doctor to determine very carefully which of the factors are responsible for your sleep disorder, to choose the most effective treatment.
Obesity is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, and
weight loss
will improve your sleep disordered breathing.
Why obesity is a risk factor for obstructive apnea?
Simple! The fat distribution increase the neck circumference and the upper body. Is harder to breathe with fat deposited in the upper airway.
This type of obesity is more common in men. Women have fat located to the hips and thighs, so men are in majority to have OSA. The thicker the neck, the bigger chance to have sleep apnea.
