10 Surprising Facts About Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

When dealing with a condition like obstructive sleep apnea disorder, it s crucial to be educated on it to choose the right treatment option. Here are the 10 facts about sleep apnea you must know: 

1. Gender differences in sleep apnea

Middle-aged men are more likely to develop sleep apnea than women. However, women can also develop sleep apnea, but their risk increases after menopause.

 2. Obstructive sleep apnea disorder can be life-threatening

Sleep apnea can bring about serious health problems if left untreated. These problems include irregular heartbeat, stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart attack. Sleep apnea can increase the risk of depression and affect relationships at home and work.

3. There are more symptoms of OSA than just snoring

Loud snoring is the widely known symptom of sleep apnea, but it is not the only one. Other symptoms include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness,
• Choking or gasping during sleep,
• Mood swings
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating

If you experience these symptoms, seeing a doctor for diagnosis and treatment is essential

4. Sleep Apnea Can Lead to Weight Gain

Sleep apnea can lead to weight gain in several ways:

1. People with sleep apnea have low levels of leptin, which regulates appetite.
2. People with sleep apnea may not get enough sleep, leading to increased hunger hormones and decreased levels of satiety hormones.
3. People with sleep apnea may snack more daily to stay awake.

Weight gain can worsen sleep apnea and increase the risk of other health problems like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. If you have sleep apnea, you must talk to your doctor about ways to lose and manage weight.

5. OSA often goes undiagnosed

OSA often goes undiagnosed, which can have significant consequences for individuals affected. One of the primary reasons for this is the lack of awareness and understanding of the condition among patients and healthcare professionals. 

Many people with OSA attribute their symptoms, such as loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue, to factors like stress or poor sleep habits, failing to recognize the underlying disorder. Moreover, since OSA occurs during sleep, it often goes unnoticed by individuals themselves, further delaying diagnosis. 

6. OSA causes fatigue

One of the reasons sleep apnea is often overlooked is that its symptoms are wide-ranging. In addition to sleep disturbances, a person may feel fatigued while awake. As a result, this damages their health. Sleep apnea can cause fatigue due to lack of sound sleep and even result in mishaps.

7. Obstructive sleep apnea disorder is also common among children 

Sleep apnea usually affects 1 in 10 children. Mostly, the symptoms are mild, and the child will eventually grow out of them. But in some cases, the child may develop behavioral problems or severe health problems as a result.  

8. Obstructive sleep apnea disorder can be diagnosed in a sleep lab 

After a physical exam, your doctor may recommend a sleep study test, which can be done in a hospital sleep lab or at home. A sleep study examines sleep statistics such as breathing, chest movements, oximetry, heart rate, etc.

The optimal way to diagnose sleep apnea is to do an all-night sleep study (polysomnography) with audio-visual recording in a sleep laboratory. Another way to track sleep is to keep a sleep diary for a few weeks to record when a person sleeps and wakes up.

9. Changing Your Lifestyle Can Help With OSA

If a person has sleep apnea, changing their lifestyle to become healthier can improve the quality of their sleep. People with sleep apnea should stop smoking, reduce soft drinks, avoid using sleeping medicines, and stop drinking alcohol.

Good sleeping habits are essential for those who have sleep apnea. They should exclusively use their bedrooms for sleeping, maintain a suitable temperature, restrict their screen time before bed, and turn out all the lights before turning in.

10. OSA has treatment options

The primary and most efficient form of treatment for those with moderate to severe sleep apnea is to wear a continuous positive airflow pressure (CPAP) mask while they are asleep. This device aids in maintaining the upper airway openings so that a person can breathe easily while sleeping.

Consult Dr. Peter Baptista for Sleep Apnea Treatment in Dubai 

If you’re looking for an otolaryngologist in Dubai who can treat sleep apnea, Dr. Peter Baptista is an excellent choice. 

As a highly experienced sleep apnea doctor, Dr. Baptista deeply understands the condition and can offer a range of effective treatments to help patients sleep better and improve their overall health. 

Whether you need a diagnosis or seek a comprehensive treatment plan, Dr. Baptista can provide the expert care you need to address your sleep apnea symptoms.

Book your appointment here!