Sleep Disorders Institute |
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Most common type of sleep-disorder
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep-disordered breathing. It involves two kinds of breathing events- Apnea (complete cessation of breathing while asleep) and Hypopnea (shallow breathing during sleep). These two events often lead to a life-threatening drop in oxygen levels in the blood, frequent awakenings, and heart rhythm disturbances.
OSA is extremely common. It has been estimated that 24 percent of middle-aged men and 9 percent of middle-aged women have OSA. Symptomatic OSA occurs in about 4 percent of men and 2 percent of women, and is usually characterized by sleep disruption and/or daytime sleepiness. An estimated 20 million adults suffer from this potentially lethal condition. It often goes undiagnosed because it occurs during sleep. Patients may seek medical help when there is a significant daytime dysfunction leading to inability to perform daytime job & social responsibilities or when they develop medical complications related to this syndrome- such as high blood pressure or heart failure.
Clinical evidence has shown that OSA affects: 80 percent of drug-resistant hypertensive patients; 50 percent of diabetics; 77 percent of morbidly obese patients; 50 percent of congestive heart failure patients; 70 percent of patients who have had a stroke; 35 percent of people with OSA suffer from hypertension, increasing their risk of heart disease. An OSA person is seven times more likely to have a car accident than non-OSA person
In addition to the negative cardiovascular and cerebro-vascular effects, OSA often leads to chronic headaches, depression, memory problems, sexual dysfunction and accidents at work or while driving due to daytime drowsiness.
This disorder is often diagnosed by performing a full medical and sleep history along with a medical examination followed by a sleep test called Nocturnal Polysomnography- a specialized overnight sleep test measuring multiple variables. The test measurements include brain wave activities, muscle activities, eye and body movements, heart rate, respiration and oxygen content in the body. This test, including evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and follow up should only be performed by an experienced sleep specialist.
The good news is, OSA can be treated effectively through a widely used air-pump device called a positive airway pressure which has either a continuous mode called (CPAP) or bi-level mode called (BIPAP). These devices gently deliver pressurized air through a small mask that is placed over the nose and acts like an "air splint" to keep the upper airway open. This helps to prevent sleep apnea leading to a better quality sleep. This treatment will be effective through a comprehensive plan in conjunction with behavioral and life style modification. Other treatment options include oral or dental appliances and certain types of upper airway surgeries that will be determined according to certain patients' conditions, preferences and responses to the positive airway pressure devices.
