Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is when the airway collapses during sleep, blocking the flow of air to the lungs. Trying to continue to breathe causes the airway to restrict even more. Eventually the brain “wakes up” to a lighter level of sleep in order to reposition the jaw and tongue to open the airway—usually causing a gasp or a snort. Then the process starts all over again. Obviously, being suffocated many times per hour will result in a less than restful sleep.
Sleep is broken into 4 main stages:
Stage 1: Transition. This should account for roughly 5% of total sleep time.
Stage 2: Light Sleep. This should account for about 45% of total sleep time.
Stages 3&4: Deep Sleep. This is when the body heals itself and performs many important reparative functions. One should ideally get about 25% deep sleep. Lack of phase 3&4 sleep may cause physical fatigue.
REM: Rapid Eye Movement Sleep. This is when dreams occur and the brain takes care of reparative functions – similar to defragmenting the hard drive on a computer. REM should account for about 25% of sleep time. Lack of REM sleep may cause mental fatigue and concentration difficulties.
Sleep Apnea is also considered a risk factor for several serious health problems, such as:
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
Sleep Apnea also affects children. This could be due to the child having enlarged tonsils that obstruct the airway. Just like in adults, often snoring is a sign of an obstructed airway. Some of the problems common in children that have been linked to sleep apnea include:
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Mood Disorders
- Bed Wetting
- Problems Learning
- Growth Problems
Recent research has linked Sleep Apnea to many disorders and health issues where no other clear cause could be determined. These include:
- Depression
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) and Heartburn
- Morning Headaches
- Impotence
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
- Chronic Pain
Sleep Apnea may also have adverse affects on the bed partner of the afflicted. If you think you or someone you know may have Sleep Apnea, please ask us for a referral to a qualified sleep specialist in your area or talk to your primary care doctor. Treating Sleep Apnea can add more life to your years and more years to your life!