Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the commonest types of sleep apnea. A person with this problem typically loses breath while sleeping. Breath cessation in OSA is caused by blockage of the upper airway. Some patients have been known to lose their breath for up to twenty seconds in one episode. This may occur several times per night. In this article, we will explore a number of important aspects on obstructive sleep apnea Richardson Tx residents will find important to know.
Symptoms of OSA are not often recognised by the individual with the condition. For a person sleeping alone, these symptoms may last for years without the individual being aware they have a problem. Common signs and symptoms include snoring, unexplained daytime fatigue and restless at night. A few people may experience insomnia, headaches, nocturia, anxiety, depression and elevated blood pressures among others.
While obesity may be associated with OSA in adults, affected children are usually thin and may have growth retardation. This is because children utilize more calories in the work of breathing whether at rest or in motion. Also, eating and swallowing becomes a big challenge when there is obstruction of the airway. In most cases, obstruction in children is caused by inflammation of the tonsils and adenoids. In some cases, OSA in children may be attributed to excessive weight, in which case the presenting symptoms appear to be similar to those of adults.
Most common risk factors associated with OSA include chemical depressants, sedatives, alcoholic drinks and old age. These factors precipitate the loss of muscle tone in the upper airway hence obstruction. Women have been shown to have a lower risk of OSA due to the protective hormone progesterone which diminishes in levels as one approaches menopause. Hence, post menopausal women have greater risk than those who are yet to reach this milestone. Pregnant women, however, have a significantly greater risk.
There are certain craniofacial syndromes that put the individual at risk of OSA. In these syndromes, unusual features involve the jaw, mouth, nose and resting muscle tone. For instance, in Downs syndrome, abnormal features that predispose one to the problem include a large tongue, low muscle tone and a narrow nasopharynx. On the other hand, other conditions such as cleft palate actually improve the airway.
Various treatment options are available. Individuals are advised to avoid smoking and taking alcohol. They should also avoid drugs that relax the central nervous system such as muscle relaxants and sedatives. Those who are overweight should also try and lose weight. In addition, physical exercise, even without losing weight, does improve breathing.
A current form of intervention that is widely used is positive airway pressure system. It involves the use of additional pressure that holds relaxed airway muscles open. A breathing pump together with a mask worn over the mouth or nose (or both) is used. Variants of this system include VPAP (variable positive airway pressure), CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and APAP (automatic positive airway pressure) among others.
A poor prognosis is associated with OSA if it goes untreated in the long run. It has been shown that these individuals have a higher risk of myocardial infarction than individuals without. The risks associated with OSA are due to the fact that one is deprived of sleep for a long time and also ends up with low oxygen content due to the cumulative apnoeic episodes. In addition to cardiovascular disease, other risks include diabetes, aortic disease, high blood pressure and obesity.
Symptoms of OSA are not often recognised by the individual with the condition. For a person sleeping alone, these symptoms may last for years without the individual being aware they have a problem. Common signs and symptoms include snoring, unexplained daytime fatigue and restless at night. A few people may experience insomnia, headaches, nocturia, anxiety, depression and elevated blood pressures among others.
While obesity may be associated with OSA in adults, affected children are usually thin and may have growth retardation. This is because children utilize more calories in the work of breathing whether at rest or in motion. Also, eating and swallowing becomes a big challenge when there is obstruction of the airway. In most cases, obstruction in children is caused by inflammation of the tonsils and adenoids. In some cases, OSA in children may be attributed to excessive weight, in which case the presenting symptoms appear to be similar to those of adults.
Most common risk factors associated with OSA include chemical depressants, sedatives, alcoholic drinks and old age. These factors precipitate the loss of muscle tone in the upper airway hence obstruction. Women have been shown to have a lower risk of OSA due to the protective hormone progesterone which diminishes in levels as one approaches menopause. Hence, post menopausal women have greater risk than those who are yet to reach this milestone. Pregnant women, however, have a significantly greater risk.
There are certain craniofacial syndromes that put the individual at risk of OSA. In these syndromes, unusual features involve the jaw, mouth, nose and resting muscle tone. For instance, in Downs syndrome, abnormal features that predispose one to the problem include a large tongue, low muscle tone and a narrow nasopharynx. On the other hand, other conditions such as cleft palate actually improve the airway.
Various treatment options are available. Individuals are advised to avoid smoking and taking alcohol. They should also avoid drugs that relax the central nervous system such as muscle relaxants and sedatives. Those who are overweight should also try and lose weight. In addition, physical exercise, even without losing weight, does improve breathing.
A current form of intervention that is widely used is positive airway pressure system. It involves the use of additional pressure that holds relaxed airway muscles open. A breathing pump together with a mask worn over the mouth or nose (or both) is used. Variants of this system include VPAP (variable positive airway pressure), CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and APAP (automatic positive airway pressure) among others.
A poor prognosis is associated with OSA if it goes untreated in the long run. It has been shown that these individuals have a higher risk of myocardial infarction than individuals without. The risks associated with OSA are due to the fact that one is deprived of sleep for a long time and also ends up with low oxygen content due to the cumulative apnoeic episodes. In addition to cardiovascular disease, other risks include diabetes, aortic disease, high blood pressure and obesity.
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