Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

It is a disorder manifested by pauses in breathing while sleeping. The apneas last long enough that one can miss one more breaths, they are recurrent throughout sleep. An apneoic event is well defined to last a minimum10 second interval between breaths, during this time there is either a neurological arousal or a blood oxygen desaturation, or both occurring at the same time. An overnight sleep test called polysomnogram is used in the diagnosis of sleep apnoea. From the polysomnogram readings, we find that significant standard readings of sleep apnoea are said to be 5 or more events of any type per hour while sleeping. We have 3 distinct forms of sleep apnoea which are; obstructive, central and complex (which is a combination of central and obstructive) with 84%, 0.4 and 15% being their prevalence. Interruption in breathing due to the lack of effort in central sleep apnea, whilst in OSA, interruption is due to the physical blocking to airflow despite effort. In the complex case, it is reported that there is a transition from central to obstructive features during the events themselves. Despite all this study it is said that individuals suffering from this disorder are barely aware of its occurrence but it is recognized by others witnessing it, symptoms may be present for a very long time without identification where the sufferer may be conditioned to daytime sleep and fatigue and other sleep disturbances

It is the most common sleep –disordered breathing (SBD). Because the body muscle tone relaxes during sleep, and at the throat level, soft tissue walls compose the human airway making it susceptible to collapse any time this explains why breathing can be obstructed while sleeping. Mild sleep apnoea may not be that significant in this matter but severe OSA requires treatment to curb sleep deprivation and other complications. Those with decreased muscle tone, increased soft tissue around the airway an example being obese individuals and other structures that lead to the narrowing of the airway are at risk to OSA which is found to be prevalent in the older people than the younger.

Taking the sex considerations it is said that men are more susceptible to OSA but not to say that women and children are left out in this case. The common manifestations of OSA are restless sleep, loud snoring, and daytime sleepiness. Diagnosis is done through polysomnography in a sleep clinic. Other ways of reducing this disorder is changing of lifestyle attributed to habits such as alcohol consumption, losing weight, and quitting smoking. Some individuals resort to using various kinds of appliances to keep the airway open during sleep, where breathing machines like continuous positive airway pressure are used (CPAP).Surgical procedures can also be used to tighten tissue and remove and also widen the airway.

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