being 40 years of age or more – although OSA can occur at any age, it's more common in people who are over 40.being male – it's not known why OSA is more common in men than in women, but it may be related to different patterns of body fat distribution.being overweight – excessive body fat increases the bulk of soft tissue in the neck, which can place a strain on the throat muscles excess stomach fat can also lead to breathing difficulties, which can make OSA worse.In people with OSA the airway has narrowed as the result of a number of factors, including: For most people this doesn't cause breathing problems. It's normal for the muscles and soft tissues in the throat to relax and collapse to some degree while sleeping. They can check for other possible reasons for your symptoms and can arrange for an assessment of your sleep to be carried out through a local sleep centre.Īs someone with OSA may not notice they have the condition, it often goes undiagnosed. See your GP if you think you might have OSA. You'll usually have no memory of your interrupted breathing, so you may be unaware you have a problem. These repeated sleep interruptions can make you feel very tired during the day. Some people with OSA may also experience night sweats and may wake up frequently during the night to urinate.ĭuring an episode, the lack of oxygen triggers your brain to pull you out of deep sleep – either to a lighter sleep or to wakefulness – so your airway reopens and you can breathe normally. repeated short periods where breathing is interrupted by gasping or snorting.Signs of OSA in someone sleeping can include: The symptoms of OSA are often first spotted by a partner, friend or family member who notices problems while you sleep. ![]() The term 'obstructive' distinguishes OSA from rarer forms of sleep apnoea, such as central sleep apnoea, which is caused by the brain not sending signals to the breathing muscles during sleep. People with OSA may experience repeated episodes of apnoea and hypopnoea throughout the night. These events may occur around once every one or two minutes in severe cases.Īs many people with OSA experience episodes of both apnoea and hypopnoea, doctors sometimes refer to the condition as obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome, or OSAHS. hypopnoea – a partial blockage of the airway that results in an airflow reduction of greater than 50% for 10 seconds or more.apnoea – where the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax and collapse sufficiently to cause a total blockage of the airway it's called an apnoea when the airflow is blocked for 10 seconds or more. ![]() There are two types of breathing interruption characteristic of OSA: This may lead to regularly interrupted sleep, which can have a big impact on quality of life and increases the risk of developing certain conditions. ![]() Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a relatively common condition where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |