What is the full form of OSA

OSA: Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OSA stands for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It happens during sleep when a person?s throat muscles intermittently relax and cause the tongue or fatty tissues of the throat to fall back into the airway and block the flow of air to the lungs. When the air flow is restricted and the blood flow to the brain is reduced that results in gasping, choking or snorting sounds as the person has to take a deep breath to send air beyond the obstruction. Snoring is the most common sign of this sleep disorder and it can affect anyone: men, women or children.

There are number of treatments for obstructive sleep apnea such as:

• A device is used to keep the airways open during sleep.
• A mouthpiece is used which thrust the jaw forward during sleep.
• In severe cases, surgery is performed to treat this disorder.

Symptoms

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Loud snoring
• Abrupt awakenings
• Morning headache
• Mood changes (depression or irritability)
• High blood pressure
• Nighttime sweating
• Decreased libido

Risk Factors

• Obesity
• Age
• Nasal Congestion
• Enlarged tonsils
• Frequent alcohol use
• Excessive Smoking
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Family history of OSA