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Obstructive sleep apnea
General information
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition that affects men and women
from childhood to old age. “Apnea” means to stop breathing, and “sleep apnea”
means to stop breathing during sleep.
In obstructive sleep apnea, the upper airway (which is made up of the muscles
involved in speaking and swallowing) are literally sucked shut by the effort to
breathe. People with sleep apnea may experience obstructions hundreds of times each
night. The stress of having the airway blocked and being unable to breath will cause
the person to wake up just enough to open the airway and take a few breaths. Then
the person usually goes right back to sleep within seconds. (The person often is not
aware that he/she even woke up.) But after falling back to sleep, another obstruction
occurs and the cycle repeats.
Sleep apnea causes sleep deprivation. Although people with sleep apnea may be
“sleeping” the right number of hours each night, the quality of the sleep is poor so
they become sleep deprived. Fatigue, sleepiness, memory difficulty, irritability, and
difficulty concentrating may all be symptoms of sleep deprivation.
In some cases, the apnea also causes the oxygen levels in the blood to drop (oxygen
deprivation). Oxygen deprivation may increase the risk for heart disease, high blood
pressure, diabetes, and stroke.
Loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, and increased blood pressure are all common
features of sleep apnea, but anyone with loud, persistent snoring is at increased risk
of the disorder. Episodes of choking or apnea during sleep – witnessed by a bed
partner – almost always indicate some degree of sleep apnea and should prompt a
careful history and examination by a primary care physician, or referral to a sleep
center.
Because of possible complications of sleep apnea, we recommend that patients who
may be at risk discuss this issue with their primary care physicians.
Am I at risk? How can I get further evaluation?
If your providers at Beth Israel Deaconess have said you may be at risk, or if you
believe after reading this sheet that you may have OSA, your primary care physician
can help you decide what next steps are best for you. If appropriate, we would be
happy to see you in the Sleep Disorders Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center. For an appointment, please ask your primary care provider for a referral, and
schedule an evaluation by calling (617) 667-5864.
This material was developed by clinicians from the OSA Perioperative Work Group at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. It
is produced and distributed by the Beth Israel Deaconess Learning Center. ©2008, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. All
rights reserved. MC1642 05/08