OSA Introduction
» What is OSA?
» Long term effects
» What should I do?
» What then?
» Other Sleep Disorders
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
Sleep Apnoea is a condition which can affect anyone of either gender and at any age, but is particularly prevalent in males, particularly when overweight, with Maori and Pacific Islanders shown to be more at risk. It occurs when people stop breathing whilst asleep.
What happens is that:
• The person falls asleep
• Tissue in the airway relaxes
• The airway closes and the person stops breathing
• Oxygen in the blood falls
• The brain wakes up and causes the airway to tighten
• The person starts breathing again, often with a loud snort
• The person falls asleep again
• Tissues relax again, and the cycle repeats itself, sometimes several hundred times a night
[Back to Top]
What are the Long Term Effects of OSA?
People with untreated OSA are prone to falling asleep at any time of the day, even when driving a vehicle. Often the increasing symptoms of OSA over the years are put down to age, stress and work pressures.
Left untreated, OSA has a detrimental effect on lifestyle and can cause:
• Memory problems
• Concentration lapses
• Impotence
• Stroke
• Increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure
• Adverse personality changes
• Hindered and slower healing processes after illness.
[Back to Top]
What should I do if I, or my partner, think I have OSA?
• Discuss it with your doctor (take information from this website, and your partner, with you)
• If necessary, ask for a referral to a Sleep Clinic or Sleep Disorders specialist
• If the specialist thinks you have OSA, they will arrange an overnight sleep study to measure your breathing while you sleep
• If you have been to your GP and remain concerned, contact a sleep service near you and seek their advice
[Back to Top]
What then?
If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment can be arranged to give you a continuous good night’s sleep.
This can take several forms, the most common of which is CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), which allows you to breathe without obstruction when asleep. The equipment may seem unusual at first, but a significant number of people get instant relief and feel better from the first day.
[Back to Top]
Are there other sleep disorders?
The modern study of sleep related disorders is a comparatively new branch of medicine.
While there is some overlap, the vast majority fall into two categories:
• Disorders of initiation and maintenance of sleep (different forms of insomnia which can usually initially be managed by GPs)
• Disorders leading to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). The main one is obstructive sleep apnoea, but there are others which also disrupt the sleep cycle.
It is clear from research that sleep related disorders reduce the quality of life of an estimated 240,000 New Zealanders. Only a small percentage are investigated in spite of the impact sleep deprivation has on the population, especially on those with other contributing health issues.
If you have any doubt, the first step is to consult your GP. Diagnosis could lead to a new, better
and safer life for you - and your family.
[Back to Top] |
