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One cause of OSA is extra tissue in the back of the throat. This could be something like tonsils that are unusually large. It can also be cause by a decrease in the overall tone of the muscles that are holding open the airway. Another common one is the tongue falling to the back of the throat and occluding (covering) the airway. A common cause of sleep apnea in adults is obesity. This is due to the presence of excess tissue that can block the airway in certain sleeping positions. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms to Look ForGenerally, sleep apnea is detected by a spouse or parent because the person with obstructive sleep apnea is unaware what is happening. Loud snoring that is reported by your bed mate can be a symptom. The snoring is so bad that one person will be forced to sleep on the couch or in another room. Periods of no breathing at all, as observed by others, is called "apnea," which means lack of breathing. An abnormal sleep pattern might be loud snoring, followed by silence when the breathing stops. The silence is broken with a loud choke or gasp when the sleeper partially awakens, clearing the air passage. This can continue throughout the night.
Waking up with headaches on a daily basis could also be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. What To Do If You Suspect that You Have a Sleep DisorderContact your physician immediately if you think that you or a loved one has a sleep disorder. If left undiagnosed and untreated, obstructive sleep apnea could lead to stroke, heart attack, heart disease and accidents. Your doctor will likely order a sleep study performed at a sleep lab in order to diagnose OSA. This test is done by a qualified technician, often a Respiratory Therapist. An MD is usually the head of the sleep lab and responsible for interpretation of the results of the test. If your doctor determines that you suffer from a sleep disorder, then he or she will order treatment for this disorder. A common treatment is CPAP. Other treatments involve surgery or medications. ConclusionMany obstructive sleep apnea cases continue to go untreated because of lack of awareness. This is a serious medical condition, so if you suspect that you or a loved one have it, be sure to have it checked straight away.
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