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Do You Snore?!
Watch out!
It could be OSA! |
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Snoring, although the focus of good natured jokes is no laughing matter. More than 40% of the adult population snore. Snoring prevalence increases as age advances and also as body weight increases beyond the ideal.
Unfortunately, until recently not much was known about the intricacies of sleep, sleep patterns and sleep related breathing disorders. Now a great deal of research has shown that a variety of sleep related breathing disorders occur during sleep. Where snoring is a symptom, the most important of all sleep related breathing disorders is OSA. |
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What is OSA?
OSA means Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Most people have trouble sleeping at some point in their lives. Some causes of this are (i) Stress (ii) Too much Caffeine and (iii) Some foods.
Sometimes the causes could be more serious, such as a sleep disorder. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is the most common of the serious sleep disorders.
“--- each year the lives of millions of Indians are disturbed, disrupted or destroyed by the consequences of sleep disorders. Among specific sleep disorders, the most serious in terms of morbidity and mortality is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea”. |
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How can you tell if some one has OSA?
If you listen when they are asleep, you will hear heavy snoring followed by the of stopping breathing for a while, and then you can that he is choking and struggling to breathe and is rudely awakened with gasps. |
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What is actually happening?
Normally during sleep, the muscles which control the tongue and soft plate hold the airway open. If these muscles relax, the airway becomes narrower, which causes snoring and breathing difficulties. If these muscles relax too much, the airway can become completed blocked, preventing breathing. This is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, OSA! |
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| What are the key symptoms of Sleep Apnoea? |
- Excessive Day-time Sleepiness: Many people with OSA experience tiredness During the day. They may fall asleep at work, while driving the car, in the middle of a conversation, while reading or watching television.
- Loud snoring: Most people with OSA snore loudly. This is often interrupted by Silence followed by gasps as they start breathing again.
- Irritability: Due to lack of sleep and the stress of trying to conduct normal life, People with OSA are often irritable.
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What are the consequences of OSA?
OSA is not immediately dangerous, but should be taken seriously. It will not get better without treatment and the long term effects are harmful if not identified and corrected.
Other more serious consequences associated with untreated OSA include depression, high blood pressure, serious heart conditions, sexual problems, memory problems, intellectual deterioration and morning headaches. |
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Who can get OSA?
OSA is a common condition affecting a significant proportion of the population. About 25% of men and 20% women in the age group of 30-60 years can be affected. Sometimes even babies can have OSA. |
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How do we diagnose OSA?
There are many methods used to diagnose OSA. Doctors use a scale for scoring sleepiness known as Epworth Sleepiness Scale as an aid to assessing whether someone has OSA. The higher the score, the greater are the chances of OSA.
To actually test and identify OSA the patient needs to undergo a SLEEP STUDY! |
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What is a Sleep Study?
The patient suspected to be suffering from OSA is made to lie down comfortably on a bed after a good dinner and is actually asked to go to sleep! Since during an episode of OSA, snoring is followed by his breathing and awakening and during which time the heart beats become irregular, oxygen (saturation) levels of blood come down plummeting.
During the entire period of the study, while the patient is asleep the doctor would monitor and record by means of sophisticated transducers and computer software, all the changes occurring during OSA, such as heart rate, rhythm, oxygen saturation levels in blood, snoring levels, respiratory movements etc. He would also monitor the brain waves to look at the various stages of sleep.
With availability of technology at the doorstep of medical community, sleep labs are now available in most of the metropolitan cities. |
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How is OSA treated?
Optional solutions consist of |
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Reduce alcohol intake |
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Weight reduction program |
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Surgery (Uvulo Pharyngo Palato Plasty) |
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CPAP System (by far the best and most effective) |
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What is CPAP treatment?
During CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) a CPAP Unit delivers lightly pressurized air through a small nose mask. The flow of air acts like an “Air Splint” to keep the upper airway open and prevent apnoea (stopping of breathing). A CPAP system is small, light, portable, quiet and easy to use and gives the user a sound, snore free sleep and a healthy, high quality life. |
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