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obstructive sleep apnoea: Health Search Results from the Invisible Web

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:: About :: Causes :: Symptoms :: Treatment :: Further Reading Search results last updated: 9/12/2008

About obstructive sleep apnoea (Source: NHSDirect)
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition which causes interruptions in breathing during sleep. For people with OSA, two types of interruptions to breathing can occur. These are described below. Apnoea - during an apnoea the muscles in the throat relax causing a total blockage of throat's airway. An apnoea usually lasts for around 10 seconds. Hypopnoea - a hypopnoea is a partial blockage of the airway which reduces the amount of oxygen that is taken into the body by 50%. As with an apnoea, hypopnoea also usually last for around 10 seconds. (Because of these episodes of hypopnoea, doctors sometimes use the term 'obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome'). The term 'obstructive' is used to distinguish OSA from other, rarer, forms of sleep apnoea, such as central sleep apnoea, which is caused by the brain 'forgetting' to breathe during sleep. What happens during OSA? People with OSA may experience repeated episodes of both apnoea and hypopnoea during the night. The lack of oxygen causes a person to come out of deep sleep into a lighter stage of sleep, or a brief period of wakefulness, in order to restore their normal breathing. However, once they fall back into deep sleep further episodes of apnoea and hypopnoea can occur. The repeated interruptions to sleep that are caused by OSA can lead to the person feeling very tired during the day. A person with OSA will usually have no memory of any episodes of breathlessness, so they are often unaware that they are not getting a p ...
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Causes of obstructive sleep apnoea (Source: NHSDirect)
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is caused by the muscles in the back of your throat relaxing during sleep. These muscles support your tongue, tonsils, and soft palate (a muscle at the back of the throat used in speech). Once the muscles relax, the airway in your throat can narrow, or become totally blocked. This interrupts the oxygen supply to your body which triggers your brain to pull you out of deep sleep so that your airway can be reopened, and you can breathe normally. As you need to have a certain amount of deep sleep in order for both your body and your mind to be fully refreshed, only having limited episodes of deep sleep will lead to you feeling very tired the next day. Most adults require at least eight hours of sleep to function at their best, and 50% of that time should be spent in the deepest phase of sleep. Known risk factors for OSA The known risk factors for OSA are outlined below. Obesity - the more obese you are, the higher the risk. For example, a 10% increase in your weight will lead to a six-fold increase in your risk of developing OSA. Being male - the reasons why OSA is more common in men than in women are unknown. Being 40 years of age, or over. Having a large neck - people with OSA often have a neck circumference of 43 cm (17 inches) or more, Taking medicines that have a sedative effect - such a sleeping pills, or tranquillisers, Having an unusual inner-neck structure - such as an unusually narrow airway, or unusually large tonsils, or tongue, or havin ...
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Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (Source: NHSDirect)
Most people with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) will snore loudly. Their partners may notice that their breathing is laboured and noisy, and it can often be interrupted by gasping and snorting as they experience an episode of apnoea. If you have OSA, you may have no memory of your sleep being interrupted, but you will wake feeling that you have not had a decent night's sleep. Over time, the repeated interruptions to your sleep will lead to the symptoms of sleep deprivation. These include: feeling excessively sleepy during the day, poor memory and concentration, headaches; particularly in the morning, irritability and short temper, depression , lack of interest in sex, and in men, impotence (inability to get, or maintain, an erection). Some people with OSA may also find that they wake up frequently during the night in order to urinate. ...
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obstructive sleep apnoea - Conventional Treatments (Source: NHSDirect)
Mild cases of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can usually be treated by making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight (if you are obese). More serious cases may require the use of a type of breathing apparatus known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to assist with breathing during sleep. Lifestyle changes Some cases of mild to moderate OSA can be successfully treated by making changes to your lifestyle. These include: losing weight, if you are obese, avoiding alcohol during the evening, quitting smoking, if you are a smoker, and avoiding the use of sleeping tablets and tranquillisers. Sleeping on your side, rather than on your back, may also help to relieve symptoms of OSA. See the 'related articles' section for further information about diet, obesity , and quitting smoking. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) If your OSA is moderate to severe, or does not respond to the changes suggested above, the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is recommended. CPAP has a mask that is placed over your nose which delivers a continuous supply of compressed air. The compressed air prevents the airway in your throat from closing. You will need to use CPAP at night when you sleep. Earlier generations of CPAP often cause nasal dryness, nose bleeds and sore throat. However, newer types of CPAP include a humidifier which should help to reduce these side effects. To start with, using CPAP may feel peculiar and you may be tempted to abandon the treatment. However ...
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Further Reading on obstructive sleep apnoea

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