What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a debilitating and often life-threatening condition that affects 18 million people in the U.S. alone. OSA occurs when tissue in the upper airways blocks the breathing passages. There are three types of sleep apneaobstructive, central, and mixed, however, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. The National Institute of Health estimates that 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 35 have sleep apnea in conjunction with excessive daytime sleepiness. In normal conditions, the muscles of the upper part of the throat allow air to flow into the lungs. However, when a person with OSA falls asleep, these muscles are not able to keep the air passage open all the time. When the airway closes, breathing stops, oxygen levels fall and sleep is disrupted in order to open the airway. The disruption of sleep usually lasts only a few seconds. However these brief arousals disrupt continuous sleep and prevent OSA sufferers from reaching the deep
