Sleep Apnea

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Sleep apnea is essentially your body choking on itself and causing repeated episodes of partial or complete suffocation sometimes lasting a minute or more. These choking and suffocating episodes repeat constantly throughout the night causing a myriad of health complications including increased risk of stroke, heart attack and even death. The cause of this collapse in the airway is usually due to the soft tissues in the mouth , tongue or throat closing down and blocking airflow during sleep. The first sign of this is usually snoring which happens when you are attempting to breathe through a narrow airway. If left untreated snoring often escalates to full OSA where the narrow airway is now completely blocked. Nearly 1 in 4 adults over 30 are unknowingly suffering from at least mild sleep apnea.

Are You at Risk?

• Do you snore loudly (louder than a person talking or loud enough to be heard through closed doors)?
• Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day?
• Has your spouse or bed partner ever observed you stop or pause breathing in your sleep?
• Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?
• Are you overweight or obese?
• Are you over 50 years old?
• Is your neck circumference greater than 16 inches?
• Are you male?

If you answered yes to two or more of the above questions then you should have your sleep health evaluated. Please take a moment to give us a call.