What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (Osa) - DeVilbiss Healthcare DV55 Bilevel Série Mode D'emploi

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What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that affects more than 22 million
Americans – approximately 4% of middle-aged men and 2% of middle-aged women.
Physiological factors such as size of tonsils, shape of the nose, narrowing of the upper airway,
or any combination of these can contribute to the potential for having OSA. During sleep,
your airway can relax so much that it begins to collapse and becomes obstructed. Relaxation
allows the tissue at the back of your throat to vibrate as you breathe causing snoring. But as
your airway collapses more fully, it blocks your airflow and stops your breathing altogether.
(In fact, the word "apnea" is derived from a Greek term meaning "without breath.")
This stoppage occurs repeatedly throughout the night, each episode lasting from just a few
seconds to more than a minute. As your blood oxygen level drops to dangerous levels, your
central nervous system triggers a sudden gasp for breath, partially awakening you and
preventing you from experiencing the sustained, deep sleep your body needs. As a result, it
is common to feel fatigued, stressed and irritable the following day – a less-than-optimal and
potentially dangerous condition in which to work, drive, and make decisions.
Nasal Cavity Nasal Cavity
Soft Palate Soft Palate
Hard Palate Hard Palate
Uvula Uvula
Tongue Tongue
Pharynx Pharynx
Epiglottis Epiglottis
During an apneic episode the soft
Unobstructed Airway
palate collapses blocking the airway
There are important medical concerns as well. OSA starves your heart, brain, and organs of
life-sustaining oxygen. Over time, this deprivation can seriously impact your health
potentially resulting in memory loss, impotence, hypertension, coronary disease, strokes,
and heart attacks. Recent studies indicate that OSA has the same risk factor for heart
disease as smoking, high cholesterol and alcohol, and estimate that as many as 38,000
people a year die from the effects of OSA.
Clearly, OSA is a serious medical condition that requires attention and treatment.
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