If you’re at all familiar with sleep disorders, you’ve heard the term OSA, standing for obstructive sleep apnea. In fact, OSA is often used interchangeably with “sleep apnea”. But they’re not the same thing. OSA is only a certain type of sleep apnea, which can be caused by multiple factors.
What are the 3 types of sleep apnea?
There Are 3 Types of Sleep Apnea. Here are the key differences between obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea.
Can OSA be cured?
Is there a sleep apnea cure? For central sleep apnea: No. For obstructive sleep apnea: possibly surgery (ie, a tracheostomy), though it’s highly invasive, requires a special plug or tube to talk normally, and other harmful potential side effects common to any surgery.
What does OSA stand for?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which a person frequently stops breathing during his or her sleep. It results from an obstruction of the upper airway during sleep that occurs because of inadequate motor tone of the tongue and/or airway dilator muscles.
Can I test myself for sleep apnea?
At-home sleep apnea testing is an easy, cost-effective way to figure out whether you’re having trouble breathing, says Susheel P. Patil, MD, PhD, clinical director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Medicine Program.
What is the main cause of sleep apnea?
In adults, the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, which is associated with the soft tissue of the mouth and throat. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked.
What does sleep apnea look like?
Sleep Apnea Signs: Snoring, Gasping, Sleepiness Loud, persistent snoring. Pauses in breathing, accompanied with gasping episodes when sleeping. Excessive sleepiness during waking hours.
How do you know if someone has sleep apnea?
Symptoms
- Loud snoring.
- Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep — which would be reported by another person.
- Gasping for air during sleep.
- Awakening with a dry mouth.
- Morning headache.
- Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Difficulty paying attention while awake.
What happens if sleep apnea is not treated?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that happens when your breathing stops and starts while you slumber. If it goes untreated, it can cause loud snoring, daytime tiredness, or more serious problems like heart trouble or high blood pressure.
Can sleep apnea go away if I lose weight?
If overweight and obese people lose weight, it would make both sleep apnea and other health problems [such as heart disease] go away. Losing just 10% of body weight can have a big effect on sleep apnea symptoms. In some cases, losing a significant amount of weight can even cure the condition.
Is sleep apnea a disability?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) no longer has a disability listing for sleep apnea, but it does have listings for breathing disorders, heart problems, and mental deficits. If you meet the criteria of one of the listings due to your sleep apnea, you would automatically qualify for disability benefits.
Can I drive with OSA?
Dealing with underreporting of Sleep Apnoea symptoms Drivers will often underreport symptoms for fear of having their licence suspended. In the vast majority of cases, however, the patient can continue to drive so long as the patient remains compliant with effective treatment, whether this be CPAP or a MAS.
Is OSA serious?
Obstructive sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition. Complications can include: Daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Because of a lack of restorative sleep at night, people with obstructive sleep apnea often have severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability.