Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) FAQs
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| • | Stopping, or struggling to breathe while sleeping |
| • | Feeling of tired and/or sleepy through the day |
| • | Falling asleep at inappropriate times |
| • | Morning headaches |
| • | Difficulty concentrating |
| • | Forgetfulness |
| • | Depression |
| • | Excessive nighttime urination |
| • | Sexual dysfunction |
| • | 32% of Americans sleep 6 hours or less per night |
| • | 23% of adults fall asleep at the wheel during the past year |
| • | Approximately 40% of adults over 40 snore |
| • | 87 million Americans snore and 45 million of them snore every night |
| • | 9% of men and 4% of women have signs of OSA on testing |
| • | 4% of men and 2% of women have signs and symptoms of OSA |
| • | OSA is as prevalent as diabetes or asthma |
| • | Increased age - although many young people also |
| • | Increased weight/obesity - although thin and fit too |
| • | Male gender - although many, many females also |
| • | Disproportionate upper airway anatomy |
| • | Alcohol or sedative hypnotics |
| • | Hypothyroidism |
| • | Increased rate of motor vehicle accidents |
| • | Increased risk of loss of employment |
| • | Uninsurability |
| • | Marital discord |
| • | Cardiovascular consequences |
| • | Stroke |
| • | Diabetes |
| • | Obesity |
| • | Age |
| • | Sedentary lifestyle |
| • | Reduced oxygen levels in the blood |
| • | Increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood |
| • | Acidosis |
| • | Potential for increased risk of cancer |
| • | 30-45% of patients with OSA have hypertension |
| • | OSA patients have 5 times greater incidence of heart attack |
| • | Individuals with chronic snoring have 3 times greater risk of dying during sleep than non-snorers (most likely due to accompanying apnea) |
| • | Length of time of apnea event |
| • | Percentage of oxygen desaturation |
| • | Complete or Partial stoppage of breathing |
| • | Behavioral treatment and avoidance of risk factors |
| • | Weight loss |
| • | Body positioning |
| • | Avoidance of CNS depressants |
| • | Avoidance of upper airway irritants |
| • | Oral appliance therapy |
| • | Surgery |
| • | Tracheostomy |
| • | Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy |
| • | Nasal surgery |
| • | Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) |
| • | Somnoplasty |
| • | Maxillofacial surgery |
| • | Hypoglossal nerve stimulator (Inspire) |
| • | Primary/heavy snoring |
| • | Mild to moderate OSA (and some cases of severe OSA) |
| • | Failure of UPPP (or other surgical/medical interventions) |
| • | Use of appliance during travel |
| • | Use in combination with other treatments |
Office HoursMonday - Thursday: By Appointment Only Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm |
