Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

The term sleep apnea comes from the Greek "apnea" - without breath. There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common and is addressed here. Sleep apnea is also spelt as "sleep apnoea" or "sleep apnia". More formally it is described as "Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome" (OSAS).

Obstructive sleep apnea can be caused by obstruction to or collapse of the upper airways during sleep. Such obstruction may be the result of illness, genetic makeup, lifestyle issues or simple age. A common symptom is snoring, although not all heavy snorers suffer from sleep apnea. This means that in some cases a cure for OSA can indirectly be a cure for snoring.

As a result of this obstruction, breathing during sleep is obstructed. This causes a reduction in the level of oxygen saturation of the blood. This in turn leads the sleeper to awaken briefly in order to breath properly.

In simple terms: the sleep apnea sufferer temporarily stops breathing.

Such events can occur many times during a single night. Severe sleep apnea sufferers can awaken up to a hundred times in a single night.

Even if such awakenings are not remembered they will disturb sleep. Sleep apnea often results in daytime drowsiness and a feeling of being "tired all the time".

If you believe that you suffer from sleep apnea it is essential that you consult your doctor and/or a medically qualified sleep specialist. The only certain way to diagnose sleep apnea is in a sleep laboratory. The process is known as a "polysomnogram" - PSG. Essentially this just means "sleep study".

Sleep Apnea Treatment

For mild OSA, there is some evidence(1) that in some cases the use of a cervical pillow might produce some improvement in severity of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing.

If your sleep apnea is more severe then your doctor might recommend a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. This is essentially a face mask that forces enough air through the nostrils to keep them open. Not pretty, but if it works for you then that's all that matters.

References:

• (1) Cervical Positional Effects on Snoring and Apneas