Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the airway is blocked repeatedly during sleep. The airway becomes blocked due to the combination of enlarged tonsils, enlarged adenoids, and a low airway index. The obstruction of the airway leads to repeated episodes of sleep apnea, which can seriously impact an individual’s health. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder, and it is estimated that up to 50% of adults have some form of sleep apnea.
People with obstructive sleep apnea often experience snoring, daytime fatigue, and mood swings.
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What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
When anything stops part or all of your upper airway while you sleep, you have obstructive sleep apnea. Your diaphragm and chest muscles must work harder to expand your airway and bring air into your lungs. Your breathing may become very shallow, or you may even stop breathing for a brief period of time. You often resume breathing with a loud gasp, snort, or bodily jolt. You may not sleep well, but you will most likely be unaware of it.
The illness can also reduce oxygen delivery to your organs and create irregular heartbeats.
Symptoms
The following are common obstructive sleep apnea warning signs:
Sleepiness or tiredness during the day
When you wake up, you may have a dry mouth or a painful throat.
Early-morning headaches
Difficulties focusing, forgetfulness, melancholy, or grumpiness
Sweating at night
Restlessness when sleeping Sexual issues, such as a low sex desire
Snoring
Having difficulty getting out of bed in the mornings and feeling as though you’re gasping or choking
Frequently waking up in the middle of the night to pee
Blood pressure is high.
Causes
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles that govern your airway relax excessively, narrowing your throat. You wake up briefly to reopen your airway, but you won’t remember doing so. This might happen dozens of times every hour.
Other factors that might induce obstructive sleep apnea include obesity, large tonsils, and health issues such as endocrine abnormalities or heart failure.
Risk factors
Obstructive sleep apnea may affect everyone. Certain variables, however, put you at greater risk, including
Extra weight. Obesity is common in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, although it is not universal. Fat deposits in the upper airway can make breathing difficult. Obesity-related medical problems, such as hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome, can potentially induce obstructive sleep apnea.
You were getting older. Obstructive sleep apnea risk increases with age but tends to level out around your 60s and 70s.
The airway is constricted. You may be born with naturally small airways. Alternatively, your tonsils or adenoids may expand and impede your airway.
Blood pressure is high (hypertension). This is particularly frequent in hypertensive patients.
Nasal congestion that persists. This is twice as common in people who have chronic nasal congestion at night, regardless of the reason. This might be related to constricted airways.
Smoking. Smokers are more prone to suffer from this.
Diabetes. This may be more likely among diabetics.
Sex. Men are twice or three times more likely than premenopausal women to suffer from this. Obstructive sleep apnea becomes more common in women after menopause.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Your doctor will examine you and inquire about your sleeping habits. They may also wish to inquire about your sleeping habits from others who reside with you.
You may need to spend the night in a sleep lab or undergo a home sleep study. Monitors will be worn by you to measure things like
The movement of air
Oxygen levels in the blood
Patterns of breathing
Your brain’s electrical activity
Movement of the eyes
Heart rhythm or pace
Muscle activation as well as arm and leg movement
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment
Treatment options for this may include:
If necessary, weight loss. Even a 10% weight loss can make a difference.
There will be no booze or sleeping medicines. These make your airway more prone to seal during sleep, preventing you from breathing normally for extended periods of time.
You’re sleeping on your side. If you simply have minor sleep apnea while you sleep on your back, this may help.
Sprays for the nose. These might be useful if sinus issues or nasal congestion make it difficult to breathe while sleeping.
Conclusion
Memory issues, morning headaches, mood swings or melancholy, and the need to pee frequently at night are all symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.
COVID-19 may be associated with this. People with this are more likely to develop a severe form of COVID-19 and require hospital care than those who do not have this.