Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep-related breathing disorder. It causes interrupted breathing episodes that happen repeatedly throughout the night. This results in poor quality sleep and can cause a wide range of symptoms.Some risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea include: Excess weight. A naturally narrow airway (which may run in families). Enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

Causes

People who snore or have a family history of obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing the condition. Children with enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids may also develop this sleep disorder.

A person with obstructive sleep apnea is often overtired and has trouble concentrating or remembering things. This can lead to poor work or school performance. Obstructive sleep apnea increases the likelihood of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. It can cause depression and mood changes.

Obstructive sleep apnea can be prevented by losing weight, not smoking, drinking less alcohol and getting enough sleep. It can also be treated by wearing a mask while sleeping that blows air under pressure into the nose and mouth (CPAP). This treatment is managed by an otolaryngologist or lung specialist, called a pulmonologist. Treatment can help improve symptoms and prevent problems related to obstructive sleep apnea, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and irritated nasal passages.

Symptoms

When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your breathing stops briefly during sleep. These periods of reduced or stopped breathing are called hypopneas and make up an average of 5 to 10 per hour on every night of sleep.

Loud snoring is a common sign of this condition, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Other symptoms include trouble staying asleep, feeling tired and having headaches. People with obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to have heart and blood vessel problems, such as high blood pressure and stroke.

Obesity is a major risk factor for this condition, but other factors can also increase your risk. These include age, being male, having a large neck circumference, being overweight, having a narrow throat, having enlarged tonsils and adenoids, having a family history of heart disease, having a medical condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and having chronic sinus or nasal congestion. It’s important to see your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms.

Diagnosis

The most reliable way to diagnose sleep apnea is through an in-lab sleep study called polysomnography, or an overnight stay at a sleep clinic. This includes monitoring things like breathing, heart rate and blood oxygen levels, as well as tracking body movement and assessing sleep stages.

Your doctor might refer you to a specialist to have this done, particularly if they notice problems such as snoring, repeated pauses in your breathing during sleep and daytime sleepiness. They might also consider it if you have other health issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or a history of swollen tonsils, an enlarged tongue or a head or neck anatomy that increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea can also lead to a number of other medical problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes and depression. That’s why it’s important to inform any new doctors you see about your obstructive sleep apnea so they can monitor or treat it, where needed.

Treatment

Generally, treatment aims to resolve nighttime breathing disruptions, improve sleep quality and reduce health complications. Treatment options include medications, surgery and lifestyle changes.

Obstructive sleep apnea can affect people of any age or gender, but the risk increases with excess weight and older age. Certain health conditions, such as a thickened or narrowed throat or enlarged tonsils, also increase the risk. And some people are predisposed to OSA because of their genetics.

Changing sleeping habits, such as sleeping on the side rather than the back, can help reduce symptoms and prevent further complications from developing. Minimizing daytime alcohol consumption and keeping to a healthy weight can also help. And it’s important to inform new doctors about your sleep apnea, especially when taking any new medication or having surgery. This ensures your medical team is aware of your condition and can help monitor your progress. If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea may cause problems such as excessive drowsiness during the daytime, which can be dangerous if you’re operating machinery or driving.