Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

OSA is a serious condition.

Do you suffer from OSA?

It has been linked to excessive tiredness, depression and reduced resistance to infection.

When left untreated OSA can increase the risk of heart attack, hypertension, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, catching colds, and even death.

It can have a significant impact on quality of life, placing unnecessary strain on relationships between bed partners, family, and the work place.

If you have OSA or display symptoms of OSA such as loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and witnessed apneas, it is essential that you seek the right treatment option.

What causes OSA?

During sleep, muscles relax, including those that control the tongue and throat. The soft tissue (or flesh) at the back of your throat can sag, narrowing the airway. Incoming air then makes the tissue at the rear roof of the mouth (the soft palate), the flap of skin hanging from the palate (uvula), and the throat vibrate—a sound we know as snoring.

Loud snoring may be a sign of a more serious problem—OSA. This is where the airway becomes completely blocked and breathing stops. The brain then detects the lack of oxygen and prompts a momentary arousal to draw breath.

Although OSA sufferers may experience hundreds of apnea episodes per night, they are unlikely to remember any of them. In fact, if the sufferer lives alone or sleeps separately, they may not be aware of their condition, even after many years.

Did you know…

• Regular snorers have a 33% increased risk of cardiovascular disease
• Patients with OSA are four times more likely to have a heart attack
• 40-80% of stroke victims also suffer from OSA

Lattimore J et al. J Am Coll Coridal 2003; 41: 1429-1437