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Can Obstructive Sleep Apnea Kill You?

 

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

You are likely hearing more about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as it is becoming more recognized, due in part to an increase in diagnosis. OSA can most easily be explained as the complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, leading to decreased breathing or episodes of no breathing at all. This happens because muscle tissues around the throat relax during sleep, closing the airway. A less common form of sleep apnea, Central Sleep Apnea, results when the brain doesn't signal breathing and does not involve closure of the airway.

Who is likely to get it?

Your chances of having OSA are greater if you are male. Other risk factors include increasing age, use of alcohol or sedatives and genetic factors such as narrow airway or an unusually thick neck. Children can also develop OSA usually due to anatomical features such as enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

Negative effects

OSA is not likely to result in immediate death, but it can have serious consequences. Oxygen saturation in the body can be become dangerously low. High blood pressure can result and the strain on the heart makes heart attacks and arrhythmias more likely. Strokes and diabetes are also possible. Those affected by OSA often have daytime fatigue, increasing comprehension issues and mood changes such as irritability. Fatigue also increases the risk of accidents and can adversely affect work performance. Relationships with a bed partner also tend to be poorer due to loud snoring at night and/or gasping related to the closing and opening of the airways. Luckily, it's often our bed partners who notice the issue may be more than just snoring and alert us to seek an evaluation.

Diagnosis

Most people with OSA symptoms are referred by a doctor to do a polysomnogram for further evaluation. A Polysomnogram, also called an overnight sleep test or sleep study is a very effective way to detect OSA. Overnight sleep tests are done at sleep clinics where licensed technicians monitor patients' heart rate, lungs, brain activity, blood oxygen levels, breathing patterns, and sleep quality over a full night. Patients can also choose to do the sleep test at home for a cost if they don't want to go to OHIP covered sleep clinics. By the end of the test, an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) is shown to represent the number of apnea and hypopnea events per hour. Sleep apnea is characterized as mild, moderate or severe.

Treatment options

Luckily there are effective treatment options. For mild sleep apnea, lifestyle changes such as weight loss, quitting smoking and not sleeping on ones back may be sufficient. Patients can consider using a CPAP machine that constantly keeps the airway open by blowing air through the passage. While CPAP is the gold treatment standard and should be tried first (especially for those with moderate to severe OSA), occasionally people find it too difficult to adapt to. Another option is using a dental appliance. These oral appliances are designed to open the airway when worn by holding the lower jaw forward. There is no complete way to cure OSA. For people who cannot tolerate CPAP or an oral appliance there are some surgical procedures that can be attempted.

OSA can have serious consequences. If you have OSA symptoms, it is important not to put them aside. There are good treatment options available, so speak to a dental or medical professional who can assist in screening and steer you to a diagnosis.


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