What is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS), the most common sleep disorder, is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more widespread than generally understood. The National Commission on Sleep Disorders estimates that OSAS is as common as asthma, affecting 5% of the American population -- or 12 million people!

OSAS is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing. Typically the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses, causing the airway to become closed. This causes people with sleep apnea to stop breathing for short periods of time (usually at least 10 seconds) and it may occur from 20 to 60 times or more per hour. These breathing pauses are almost always accompanied by snoring or a "snort" as victims attempt to breathe. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep often lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.

Why should I be concerned?

The consequences of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome range from annoying to life-threatening. Due to the serious disturbances in their normal sleep patterns, people with sleep apnea often feel sleepy during the day and their concentration and daytime performance suffer. They may experience irritability, learning and memory difficulties, weight gain, headaches, symptoms suggesting depression, sexual dysfunction, and falling asleep while at work, on the telephone, or while driving.

Early recognition and treatment of sleep apnea is important because it may be associated with irregular heartbeat, heart attack and stroke. It has been estimated that up to 50% of sleep apnea patients have high blood pressure.

What is the treatment?

The most common treatment for OSAS is called Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. This involves sleeping with an air mask that is attached to a machine that provides air at a pressure high enough to keep the airway open during sleep. While many people fear that they would not be able to sleep at all while wearing a mask, people with Sleep Apnea usually experience such tremendous improvements in their sleep quality that they quickly adjust to the mask. Other treatments include lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, not drinking alcohol, or losing weight. Sometimes surgery is recommended.

To confirm suspected OSAS a sleep study must be performed by qualified medical personnel. The patient simply sleeps overnight at FirstLight Health System while being "wired" to various machines and monitored by staff.