Question 1

what is obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

OSA: Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when breathing stops (apnea) during sleep usually as a result of a temporary obstruction such as a narrowing and closing in the oropharynx. When the brain detects that breathing has stopped, an alarm goes up that wakes the person so that he starts breathing again. Often the person does not know why he has woken. An observer may note snoring or gasping in the night.

Question 2

is obstructive sleep apnea painful?

Accepted Answer

No: Sleep apnea can cause headaches, dry mouth, mood and personality changes, excessive sleepiness. It is not a painful condition.

Question 3

how can i treat obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

CPAP: The  treatment involves sleeping with a pressurized mask called cpap. In sleep apnea, excessive soft tissue in the throat, can relax during deep sleep, this blocks the airway and drops oxygen levels , disrupting sleep and causing other problems. A mask hooked to a machine that applies a low level of air pressure keeps the airway open. Many with osa are overweight and weight loss also helps much.

Question 4

can you die from obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

Indirectly: Untreated sleep apnea causes drops in oxygen levels during sleep, this causes a release of catecholamines which are of "stress hormones". Over time this can increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and pulmonary hypertension. Overtime these can lead to death. In addition the sleep deprivation leads to increase car accidents, which can be fatal. Treatment helps avoid this.

Question 5

how does obstructive sleep apnea impact health?

Accepted Answer

Lots of ways: The impact of sleep disorders is evident in a wide range of adverse health consequences, including but not limited to hypertension, cadiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders such a diabetes, gastric disorders such as gerd, respiratory disorders such as asthma, emotional and psychological disorders, and even sudden death.  There is a much higher rate of motor vehicle accidents as well.

Question 6

what are the options  for obstructive sleep apnea  ?

Accepted Answer

OSA: Depends on the medical history, severity of the apnea & the cause of the obstruction. Also, life-style changes such as quit smoking or alcohol or use of sedatives, losing weight, cpap, sleep hygiene.

Question 7

is there any medication for obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately Not: Obstructive sleep apnea needs to be treated by either CPAP or bipap or some other prescribed airway device to ensure that you get adequate oxygen during sleep.  You should see a sleep specialist & have a sleep study. Additionally, losing weight via diet & exercise or a medically supervised weight loss program if you have failed on your own.  Uppp is also a surgical option but isn't fun-last resort.

Question 8

can i die from obstructive sleep apnea if i ignore it?

Accepted Answer

Yes: If totally ignored it can be a cause of death.  However, that is extremely unlikely as it is usually slowly progressive and usually forces one to see a doctor because the symptoms are so miserable.

Question 9

does obstructive sleep apnea usually cause many symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: The number one daytime symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (osa) is sleepiness. Turns out that only about 20% of osa patients complain of sleepiness. Thus, the majoriy of osa patients may not subjectively perceive daytime symptoms. Overall, osa may be a sneaky creature which makes it imperative to actively seek for symptoms/predisposing factors.

Question 10

how effective are cpaps at treating obstructive sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

Very: As i tell my patients... CPAP is 100% effective 100% of the time you are using it. Unfortunatley compliance is about 50%. Bottom line... If you are using it and keep it on... It's effective. If you don't tolerate it... You need other treatment.

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Doctor answers about:

Obstructive sleep apnea

A member asked:

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

Is obstructive sleep apnea painful?

A member asked:

How can i treat obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

Can you die from obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

How does obstructive sleep apnea impact health?

A member asked:

What are the options for obstructive sleep apnea ?

A member asked:

Is there any medication for obstructive sleep apnea?

A member asked:

Can i die from obstructive sleep apnea if i ignore it?

A member asked:

Does obstructive sleep apnea usually cause many symptoms?

A member asked:

How effective are cpaps at treating obstructive sleep apnea?

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