Why is it so important to diagnose and treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Sleep apnea in general refers to a condition that has periods of apnea, a temporary cessation of breathing, as the primary component. Specifically, OSA refers to apnea episodes that are due primarily to the collapse of the upper airway during sleep. The effort to breathe is made but there is no airflow in and out of the lungs. Estimates are that 5% of our adult population has OSA. People with undiagnosed and untreated OSA may experience the following symptoms; daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, headaches, elevated blood pressure and depression just to name a few. Job performance, quality of life and a person’s medical wellness may also be affected. Your primary physician can assist in referring you to a Sleep Disorder Center for testing. Once the diagnosis of OSA is confirmed, common treatment is a Nasal CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Therapy. CPAP involves administering air, usually through a mask, by an external blower at a prescribed pressure that keeps the airwa
