Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Approximately 30 million Americans are victims of a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. Many millions more are predisposed and have a high risk of developing the illness. If you are an adult male, the odds are about 50/50 that your breathing is not normal when you are sleeping. It is imperative that anyone who might have this problem or is predisposed, or knows someone they care about who has the problem, should have the clearest possible understanding about it.

We have dedicated this section of the web site to a crystal clear and detailed description of all aspects of obstructive sleep apnea. The section begins with an overview which will introduce the reader to this important sleep disorder. During the next several weeks we will be providing you with a more in-depth understanding of obstructive sleep apnea. Please check back to this section to view upcoming segments.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
People with OSA experience recurrent episodes during sleep when their throat closes and they cannot suck air into their lungs (apnea). This happens because the muscles that normally hold the throat open during wakefulness relax during sleep and allow it to narrow. When the throat is partially closed and/or the muscles relax too much, trying to inhale will suck the throat completely closed and air cannot pass at all. This is an obstructive sleep apnea episode.

A cessation of breathing must last 10 seconds or more to be called an apnea. Obstructive apnea episodes can last as long as two minutes and are almost always associated with a reduction in the level of oxygen in the blood. When an individual is in the midst of an obstructive sleep apnea episode, as long as sleep continues, the apnea continues. It is only terminated and the victim's life is saved by waking up. This arousal instantly increases the activity of the muscles of the tongue and throat muscles that enlarge the airway. The victim will be able to breathe and to once again fill the lungs with life-giving oxygen. This cycle may be repeated hundreds of times a night while the sufferer has no idea it is happening.

What are the major symptoms?

Fatigue and sleepiness during the day.
Loud snoring; if the loud snoring is repeatedly punctuated by brief periods of silence or choking sounds, the individual is certain to have obstructive sleep apnea.

Other common features are:
Obesity
Small jaw, thick neck
High blood pressure
Restless sleep; the repeated struggle to breath can be associated with a great deal of movement.

Depressed mood and/or irritability
Reduced sex drive and impotence
Snorting, gasping, choking during sleep

Not as commonly reported but may be present:

Feeling that sleep is strangely unrefreshing
Difficulty concentrating
A dry mouth upon awakening
Excessive perspiration during sleep
Heartburn
Rapid weight gain
Morning headaches
Change in personality
Memory lapses
Intellectual deterioration
Frequent nocturnal urination (nocturia)
Confusion and severe grogginess upon awakening
Particularly in young children, large tonsils and adenoids.

There may be chest retraction during sleep (the sternum and the spaces between ribs pull unnaturally inward when trying to inhale)

How serious is OSA?
Depending on the degree of severity, OSA is a potentially life-threatening condition. Someone who has undiagnosed severe obstructive sleep apnea is likely to have a heart attack, a stroke, cardiac arrest during sleep, or a harmful accident. In addition, awakening to breathe hundreds of times in a single night causes the victim to become very sleep deprived. There is a constant risk of serious accidents such as falling asleep while driving as well as impaired function in the workplace and in personal relationships. All of the negative consequences of OSA increase as severity increases. Untreated OSA tends to progressively worsen and sooner or later will result in partial or complete disability and death.

Diagnosing and treating OSA can be a costly affair. A full sleep study to diagnose the problem can cost $5,000 or more, must be done at a certified sleep center and involves an overnight stay. Prescribed treatments may include losing weight, wearing a costly and uncomfortable continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device that forces air through your nose and mouth to keep your airways open, or even surgery.

There is a more cost-effective, simpler alternative -- one that has recently been shown to be as effective as a CPAP device at a fraction of the cost. A case study published by Eastern Virginia Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine concludes that wearing a simple chinstrap to sleep can be an effective treatment for OSA. A strap can reposition the jaw and tongue, preventing obstruction from occurring.

The news comes as no surprise to Stephen Matthews, inventor of the My Snoring Solution chinstrap. Matthews himself suffered from OSA until a flash of inspiration prompted him to wear a makeshift chinstrap to sleep. Years later, the My Snoring Solution chinstrap has helped thousands of wearers relieve snoring symptoms, sleep better and feel healthier.

Try a My Snoring Solution chinstrap and start sleeping better tonight. Order yours now for only $89.97, and get a 12 month money back guaranteeat www.MySnoringSolution.com. You'll also receive a free American Medical Review DVD and a copy of the book "7 Steps to Sleep Success."