Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause a number of symptoms in patients who have this condition. Due to anatomic obstruction of the oropharynx and/or hypopharynx, patients have periods of hypopnea (shallow breathing) and apnea (cessation of breathing for more than 15-20 seconds). Individuals with obesity as well as some conditions affecting the development of the head/neck/jaw are at greater risk for OSA. Many people who have OSA snore.

Apneas during sleep result in decreased oxygenation of the blood as well as hypoventilation and resultant increases in blood carbon dioxide levels. Patients may experience elevated blood pressure (hypertension), headaches, the inability to sleep flat (orthopnea), waking up with sudden shortness of breath or choking (paroxymsal nocturnal dyspnea)as well as palpitations. If untreated over time the hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) from OSA can cause pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure or provoke heart attacks or strokes.

Treatment for OSA includes weight loss, the use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation such as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or BIPAP (biphasic positive airway pressure). Some individuals may be candidates for certain kinds of surgery to correct sleep apnea.

If you or someone you know has symptoms of sleep apnea, you should seek medical evaluation for this.

For more information about sleep apnea, please see:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea/