Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition and causes a person’s breathing to be disrupted during sleep. It makes the breathing shallow several times while the patient is asleep, which can leave the body and the brain deprived of oxygen. On the surface, obstructive sleep apnea is usually associated with loud snoring and lethargy due to unrefreshed sleep. However, there are potentially other serious consequences of long term sleep apnea in the form of heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression. It is a serious condition and can cause a person to stop breathing when left untreated. There are several forms of sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea
This is a common form of sleep apnea that occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax, blocking the airways. The brain forces you awake so that your airways can reopen. This condition prevents the ability to have restful sleep.
Central sleep apnea
This uncommon form of sleep apnea happens when the brain fails to transmit signals to breathing muscles. This causes a person to awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep.
Polysomnography
Polysomnography is a test to identify sleep disorders. Done while you’re fully asleep, specialised equipment is used to record data on your sleep patterns. This equipment monitors your heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels. Data obtained will be used to chart your sleep cycles to determine sleep apnea
