About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder which involves the cessation of airflow, breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It is caused by obstruction to the upper airway. The pauses in sleep are called as apnea.

This upper airway obstruction leads to recurrent oxyhemoglobin desaturation which results in arousal from sleep; people suffering with obstructive sleep apnea are associated with excessive sleepiness which is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

In some people, the airway is blocked by enlarged tonsils, an enlarged tongue, jaw deformities, or growths in the neck that compress the airway. Blocked nasal passages may also play a part in some people.

The treatment for OSA involves using a device that keeps the upper airway open with the mouth piece to thrust your jaw forward while sleeping.