Otolaryngology and ENT

Obstructive Sleep Apnea utmost common type of sleep apnea and is caused by complete or partial obstructions of the upper airway. It is categorized by repetitive episodes of shallow or paused breathing during sleep, despite the effort to breathe, and is usually associated with a decrease in blood oxygen saturation. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by gaps in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. In the most mutual form this follows loud snoring. There may be a choking or snorting sound as breathing restarts. As it disrupts regular sleep, those affected are often sleepy or tired during the day. In children it may cause hitches in school or hyperactivity. There are three forms of sleep apnea, obstructive (OSA), central (CSA), and a grouping of the two. OSA is the most common form. Risk factors for OSA comprise being overweight, a family history of the condition, allergies, and enlarged tonsils. In OSA, breathing is interrupted by a impasse of airflow, while in CSA breathing stops due to a lack of effort to breathe. People with sleep apnea are frequently not aware they have it. Often it is picked up by a family associate. Sleep apnea is often detected with an overnight sleep study.