Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It is estimated that just in the USA, the amount of people suffering from OSA ascends to more than 10 million. Yet, only a small fraction are aware of this problem! When you suffer from sleep apnea you interrupt breathing while you sleep, this is a type of apnea that if left untreated can be life-threatening.

Cause of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Determining the cause of obstructive apnea is hard, as it still remains unclear to doctors and scientists. The obstruction occurs in the soft palate, a section where there are no hard structures to keep the airway open. In daytime, the airway is kept open thanks to muscles in the zone, but when a sufferer of obstructive sleep apnea falls asleep, the muscles relax to the point that they block the airways.

This lack of air causes the patient to wake up. They wake up for just a few seconds, but this happens a lot throughout the night, making impossible for the person with OSA to rest well in a deep sleep phase. Common OSA sufferers wake up about 10 – 60 times, but if the disorder is sever the number can reach 100.

Are You at Risk of Having Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Some people are more prone to develop OSA, like for example people with excess weight. Accumulation of fat in the compromised areas can make obstruction even easier when the muscles relax.

As you age you are also increasing your risk factors. As we age the muscles tend to lose strength, and are replaced by fat, narrowing the airway.

There are other factors that can increase the chances of developing OSA, these include: smoking, congestion, use of alcohol and sedative drugs, adenoids, and anatomic abnormalities.