Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome is the most common form of sleep disorder and occurs when a person stops breathing during sleep. This typcially occurs in repetitive episodes resulting from upper airway obstruction during sleep commonly associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation.

In Obstructive Sleep Apnea , the obtruction of the airway may occur due to:

nasal passage blockage
a large tongue
large tonsils
upper airway obstruction by excess tissue in the airway

The overall result is the relaxation of the muscles of the airway, eventually collapsing when asleep.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

The main symptoms of sleep apnea are:

excessive daytime sleepiness
frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep
chest retraction during sleep in young children (chest pulls in)

Other medical symptoms which may be associated with sleep apnea include:

loud snoring
unrefreshing sleep
morning headaches
a dry mouth upon awakening
restless sleep
nocturnal snorting, gasping, choking
insomnia
excessive perspiring during sleep
frequent nocturnal urination
confusion upon awakening

Sleep apnea may be associated with other serious medical conditions such as:

high blood pressure
overweight

Sleep apnea can cause a change in mental or emotional state, more from the lack of sleep than anything else. Common mental changes include:

irritability
change in personality
depression
difficulty concentrating
reduced libido

Sleep apnea may also result in digestive disorders such as:

rapid weight gain
heartburn / indigestion

Medical Concerns of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition. It therefore requires immediate medical attention to diagnose if the symptoms the patient is experiencing are indeed obstructive sleep disorder syndrome, the most likely causes and suitable treatment.

Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea may lead to heart attacks, strokes, impotence, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Even in the absence of one of the above potentially fatal conditions, obstructive sleep apnea causes life dysfunciton in the sufferer, and typical daytime sleepiness may lead to accidents, work related issues and relationship problems.

Diagnosis of Sleep Disorder

Treatment of Sleep Disorder