SDB covers a number of nocturnal breathing disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common. OSA is the partial or complete collapse of the upper airway caused by the relaxation of muscles controlling the soft palate and tongue.
If you stop breathing for 10 or more seconds during sleep, you may have sleep apnea.
It’s important to recognize all the symptoms of sleep apnea because left untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, depression, and stroke.
The numbers are alarming. In fact, moderate to severe sleep apnea triples the risk of stroke in men. 43% of patients with mild OSA and 69% of patients with severe OSA have hypertension. And those with moderate to severe sleep apnea are 15 times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident.
Getting tested for sleep apnea can dramatically change your quality of life.