WHAT EXACTLY OCCURS DURING OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA?
AWhen Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs, the tongue and soft tissues fall back toward the throat during sleep, totally blocking the airway and causing a cessation in breathing. The airway obstruction will not clear until the brain’s oxygen level falls low enough to partially awaken the sleeper. The tongue then returns to a more normal position, and the airway seal is broken – usually with a loud gasp. Sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality. People with untreated sleep apnea are generally not aware of the awakenings. Mild to moderate apneic events may occur from 20 to 40 or more times per hour. In severe cases, the frequency may be even greater.
