Obstructive sleep apnea: All you need to know about this disorder

Veteran singer Bappi Lahiri, fondly known as Bappi Da succumbed to the sleep disorder; obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on Wednesday. Here’s what the health condition means:

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. According to Mayo Clinic, it causes you to repeatedly stop and start breathing while you sleep. This type of apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Excess weight, hypertension, smoking, diabetes ad asthma are some of the risk factors of OSA.

Also watch: Higher levels of physical activity can reduce obstructive sleep apnea: Study

Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea

Excessive daytime sleepiness

Loud snoring

Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep

Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking

Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat

Morning headache

Difficulty concentrating during the day

Mood changes, such as depression or irritability

High blood pressure

Decreased libido

There are treatments available for obstructive sleep apnea, depending on the seriousness of the disease. In mild cases, one may only need to make lifestyle changes. Doctors may ask a patient to lose weight, stop smoking, or treat nasal allergies (if you have any). For more serious cases, the treatment is done using a device that uses positive pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep. If these treatment options don’t help, doctors may suggest surgery.

Also watch: Feeling mentally worn out? Blame your irregular sleeping pattern

(Inputs from Dr. Anjali Nakra)