Do you often wake up feeling tired, groggy, or with a headache, even after a full night of sleep? If so, the problem may not be how long you sleep, but what happens while you are sleeping. One possible cause is obstructive sleep apnea, commonly called OSA. This is a serious but treatable sleep disorder that affects millions of people.
The word “apnea” comes from a Greek word meaning “without breath.” In sleep apnea Mercer Island, breathing stops for short periods of time while a person is asleep. Each pause lasts at least 10 seconds and can happen many times every hour. People diagnosed with OSA usually stop breathing at least five times an hour, and sometimes much more.
When breathing stops, the body does not get enough oxygen. Important organs like the brain, heart, and kidneys are affected, and carbon dioxide builds up in the blood. When the brain senses this problem, it briefly wakes the person just enough to restart breathing. Most people do not remember waking up, but this cycle can repeat again and again throughout the night. Because of this, sleep is constantly interrupted, which leads to feeling exhausted the next day.
In obstructive sleep apnea, breathing pauses happen because the airway becomes blocked. This usually occurs when the tongue, throat muscles, or soft tissues relax too much during sleep and block airflow. A less common type, called central sleep apnea, happens when the brain does not send proper signals to control breathing.
Loud snoring is one of the most frequent symptoms of OSA. A person sleeping nearby may also notice pauses in breathing followed by choking or gasping sounds. Other symptoms include extreme daytime sleepiness, waking up with a dry mouth or headache, waking up often at night, needing to urinate frequently at night, trouble focusing, and mood changes. Symptoms in women may be milder and easier to miss.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, it is important to talk to a doctor. Diagnosis usually requires a sleep study done either in a sleep lab or at home. The results show whether the condition is mild, moderate, or severe, based on how often breathing stops during sleep.
Treating OSA is very important because untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of serious health problems. These include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, eye problems like glaucoma, some cancers, and even early death. Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, and avoiding certain medications can help improve symptoms, but they may not be enough on their own.
The most common treatment for OSA is a CPAP machine, which uses air pressure to keep the airway open during sleep. Other treatment options include BiPAP machines, special nasal valves, oral devices worn in the mouth, tongue-strengthening devices, position therapy, or surgery in some cases. Not every treatment works for everyone, so doctors choose options based on each person’s needs.
With the right diagnosis and treatment, people with sleep apnea can sleep better, feel more alert during the day, and greatly improve their overall health.
