Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an increasingly common, chronic, sleep-related breathing disorder. Muscles in the throat and upper airway relax intermittently during sleep, blocking the airway. Undiagnosed OSA is related to long-term health consequences including cardiovascular disease, depression, cognitive disorder, metabolic disorders. It is also associated with ineffectual productivity, impotency, motor vehicle accidents resulting in injury and fatality. Here are a few symptoms you might wanna look out for, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headache, memory loss, irritability, nocturia and non-refreshing sleep.
Snoring is one of the most prevalent symptoms of OSA but not everyone who snores has OSA. In maximum cases, people who snore habitually aren’t diagnosed with OSA. One must seek a doctor if he feels groggy or sleepy in the morning and doze off during the day.
Doctors often use STOP-BANG Questionnaires to identify people who might have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It was developed to meet the need for a reliable, concise, and easy-to-use screening tool. STOP-BANG consists of the following questions:
S- Do you snore while you sleep?
T- Are you tired of waking up or feeling sleepy most of the day?
O- Has anyone observed you gagging, having choking spells while you are asleep?
P- Do you have high Blood Pressure?
B- Is your BMI( Body Mass Index) exceeding 35?
A- Are you aged above 50 years? (Age)
N- Is your neck circumference more than 40 cm?
G- Is your gender male or are you a post-menopausal woman?
If your answers are a YES to more than 5 above-mentioned questions, that means you might have the possibility of getting diagnosed with OSA. It is very common in obese people due to the deposition of extra fats on their larynx and pharynx that can close off their airway in sleep and that’s why doctors believe that the best way to reduce symptoms is to lose weight.
‘Consciousness is a disease’, well said by Miguel de Unamuno. Don't strain your mind and overthink about your health. All you need to do is to include these 5 things in your daily routine and get so used to and habitual of them that it becomes an inseparable part of your life.
Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and losing weight helps in curing OSA to a great extent.
Refrain from consuming alcohol
Usage of Oral appliances- it helps in repositioning your jaw or tongue to keep your airway open while you sleep.
Change your sleep position- Altering your sleep position can reduce OSA symptoms and improve your night’s sleep.
Yoga- Yoga will keep you energetic, strengthen your heart and encourage oxygen flow. It helps in curing OSA.
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