Side Effects and Links to Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep apnea OSA is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep, which can prevent the body from getting enough oxygen which impacts our heart, brain, and many other areas of our body.
Common Risk Factors to Untreated Sleep Apnea.
Snoring is the sound made when airflow is partially or totally blocked while sleeping, causing tissues in the throat to vibrate. Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), others include:
Daytime Sleepiness
Waking Up Gasping or Choking
Morning Headaches
Trouble Focusing During The Day
Unusual Moodiness or Irritability
Frequently Waking Up to Urinate at Night
Know Your Score to Stop the Snore!
The score will tell you how many times your breathing stopped or was obstructed per hour and provide some key insights into oxygen levels and heart rate.
Intro to Sleep Apnea 101
Common Terms:
Get familiar with the terms related to sleep apnea testing.
Apnea:
Your breathing is completely stopped for 10 seconds or longer.
Hypopnea:
Your breathing is only partially impaired but reduced oxygen levels.
AHI: Apnea-Hypopnea Index: (Your Score!)
A measurement of how many times a person’s breathing slows or stops during sleep per hour.
What Is Your Score?
Your AHI measurement can tell us how severe your OSA is. The higher the measurement the more impact on your health.
Mild:
Your AHI is between 5 and 15. This means you stop breathing 5-15 times per hour.
Moderate:
Your AHI is between 15 and 30. This means you stop breathing 15-30 times per hour.
Severe:
Your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour).
How Do I Know if I Have OSA?
A simple sleep screening test can be done in the comfort of your own home that will help determine if you have sleep apnea. This test will provide a score to determine how severe and what treatment options are available for you. Fill out the simple screening questionnaire and an Alterna Sleep representative will guide you through the process.