The term obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) means to stop breathing (apnea), in your sleep, because of an obstruction. This obstruction is your airway collapsing upon itself due to the anatomical build of your upper airway, combined with sleep stage or position, and extraneous tissue that may exist in your upper airway (fat, tonsils, tongue, uvula, etc.). This may occur over and over again a night, in some cases, hundreds of times. Snoring is the sound of turbulent airflow in your airway and may be a sign of OSA (but not always). See Informative Video

Associated with each respiratory event, oxygen levels will drop and brain wave activation occurs, effectively interrupting your sleep over and over again each night. Individuals with OSA frequently feel sleepy and have low energy. Additionally, there is a strong link between OSA and heart disease, heart failure, cardiac rhythm disturbances, glucose control, strokes, and even death. In children, OSA has been linked to ADHD and behavioral problems. So, it is clearly important to have this evaluated.

Treatment for OSA involves continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) which is effectively an air compressor, hooked up to a hose, hooked up to a mask. This air compressor provides a “splinting” effect in your upper airway, pushing open the obstruction and prevents respiratory events and snoring.

Certain surgeries are appropriate for certain patients with OSA, however, a full evaluation and consultation is recommended before seeking out this alternative as not all patients are candidates for surgery. Additionally, dental devices have been found to be effective for certain patients with mild OSA, but again, a full consultation with a sleep specialist is recommended before pursuing this option.

At the Piedmont Sleep Disorders Center, we have dedicated personnel to ensure that the appropriate pressure, machine, mask interface, and education is supplied to our patients to ensure optimal fit and compliance, ensuring optimal benefit from CPAP therapy. For more information on OSA, see www.css.to/sleep/osa.pdf or www.sleepapneainfo.com.