What is Sleep Apnea? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
6 min read
Sleep apnea affects millions of Indians, yet most cases go undiagnosed. Learn the warning signs and what to do next.
Understanding sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition where the muscles of the throat relax during sleep and repeatedly block the airway. Each pause — an apnea — can last 10 seconds or longer and may occur dozens of times an hour, starving the body of oxygen and fragmenting sleep.
Common symptoms
Loud habitual snoring, gasping or choking at night, morning headaches, dry mouth, poor concentration and overwhelming daytime sleepiness are the classic signs. Partners often notice the breathing pauses before the patient does.
Why it matters
Untreated sleep apnea raises the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke and road accidents caused by drowsiness. It also worsens control of existing chronic diseases.
How it is diagnosed
A sleep study measures your breathing, oxygen saturation, pulse and effort through the night. A home sleep study is comfortable, affordable and clinically validated for suspected OSA.
Treatment options
Most patients are treated with CPAP therapy, which gently splints the airway open with pressurised air. Weight management, positional therapy and, in select cases, surgery may also help. Renting a CPAP machine first is a low-risk way to confirm the therapy suits you.
Need help with this at home?
VRHealthCare provides home sleep studies, CPAP rental and oxygen concentrator rental at your doorstep with fast delivery, 24×7.