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Grafco Medical Alcohol Pump Dispenser


Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Alternate Names

  • obstructive apnea


Sleep apnea is the term used for periods in which a person temporarily stops breathing while asleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when something is blocking the airway. It is the most common type of sleep apnea.

What is going on in the body?

When the muscles relax during sleep, excess tissue can drop into the air passage and interrupt breathing. The person continues to try to breathe around the blockage but cannot take in enough oxygen. Carbon dioxide builds up in the person's blood. This problem corrects itself as soon as normal breathing is restored.


What are the causes and risks of the condition?

Other risk factors for sleep apnea include:
  • drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
  • enlarged tonsils
  • lung diseases, such as emphysema
  • sleeping on the back
  • smoking cigarettes
  • using sleep medications


What can be done to prevent the condition?



How is the condition diagnosed?

If a person exhibits symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep study, called a polysomnogram (PSG), may be recommended. This test measures the following body functions during sleep:
  • airflow and respiratory effort
  • blood oxygen levels
  • blood pressure and heart rate
  • electrical activity in the brain
  • eye movement
  • muscle movement

Long Term Effects

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

Sleep deprivation can lower a person's quality of life and increase the risk for injuries. Up to 50% of the individuals with obstructive sleep apnea have high blood pressure. They are also at increased risk for the following disorders:
  • arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, which may be fatal
  • cor pulmonale, a condition in which the heart is so weakened that it cannot pump blood through the lungs
  • heart attack
  • pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs
  • right ventricular hypertrophy, that is, enlargement and weakening of the right side of the heart
  • stroke

Other Risks

What are the risks to others?

Obstructive sleep apnea is not contagious and poses no risk to others.


What are the treatments for the condition?

Treatment is focused on reducing airway blockage and increasing the amount of oxygen in the body. The first step is often a serious attempt at losing weight. Dental appliances may be used to reposition the tongue and lower jaw. It is also crucial to avoid alcohol and sleeping pills.
If these measures do not help, the person may need a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. The individual wears a mask over the nostrils and/or mouth that pumps in pressurized air. This increases the amount of oxygen entering the lungs and also relieves the symptoms of obstruction. The technique can be used with or without supplemental oxygen.
A number of surgical procedures are available. One of the most common, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, abbreviated as UPPP, is a type of surgery that removes excess tissue at the back of the throat. If all other methods fail, a tracheostomy may be done. This involves cutting a small hole in the neck surgically, through which the person can breathe.

Side Effects

What are the side effects of the treatments?

If the person responds well to treatment, there are no side effects. The individual will sleep better and symptoms will disappear.

After Treatment

What happens after treatment for the condition?

If the sleep apnea is improved by weight loss, it is important that the individual keep the excess weight off. Some treatments, such as the use of a CPAP machine, can be lifelong.


How is the condition monitored?



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