Today’s bill of fare takes a look at Obstructive Sleep Apnea, an often undiagnosed condition, and life threatening in nature. Apparently, there is an increased proportion of apnea sufferers and those who already have another debilitating condition. Therefore, if you snore heavily, or wake up in the middle of the night in the middle of a snoring session, you likely have OSA to either a mild or serious degree—and you need to participate in an overnight test called a polysomnography.
Having personal experience with this test, it is rather interesting, and you are hooked up to many wires while your breathing patterns are monitored by sophisticated electronic equipment.
Sleep apnea means “cessation of breath.” It is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep, usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. In other words, the airway becomes obstructed at several possible sites. The upper airway can be obstructed by excess tissue in the airway, large tonsils, a large tongue and usually includes the airway muscles relaxing and collapsing when asleep. Another site of obstruction can be the nasal passages. Sometimes the structure of the jaw and airway can be a factor in sleep apnea.
A person literally stops breathing until shaken into consciousness by the brain, searching desperately for oxygen. This can happen hundreds of times in one night.
What are the symptoms?
- excessive daytime sleepiness
- frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep. (The patient may be unaware of this symptom — usually the bed partner is extremely aware of this).
Associated features may include:
- loud snoring
- morning headaches
- unrefreshing sleep
- a dry mouth upon awakening
- chest retraction during sleep in young children (chest pulls in)
- high blood pressure
- overweight
- irritability
- change in personality
- depression
- difficulty concentrating
- excessive perspiring during sleep
- heartburn
- reduced libido
- insomnia
- frequent nocturnal urination
- restless sleep
- nocturnal snorting, gasping, choking (may wake self up)
- rapid weight gain
- confusion upon awakening
How serious is sleep apnea?
It is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and heart disease. In addition, obstructive sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness that can result in accidents, lost productivity and interpersonal relationship problems.  The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe.
The good news is that by wearing of a breathing machine called a CPAP machine (continuous pressure airway) one can completely eliminate the apnea, and return to a life where the brain is no longer deprived of oxygen, and an afflicted individual will return to waking life refreshed, allowing for a best case scenario in keeping one’s immune system as strong as possible.
Medicare and Medicaid often bear the entire expense of the machine and parts.
Yes, the mask is a bit uncomfortable and obstructive (and your partner may believe an alien is now in bed with them) but when you consider the alternative, it makes sense to ‘get used to it.’Â Soon, it becomes your friend.
As a six year veteran of the CPAP machine, I am living testimonial to its absolute effectiveness. Please do yourselves and loved ones a favor and have yourselves checked out if you have any of the symptoms.
That’s it for now.
Advocate
