What is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition that causes a person to stop breathing during sleep. During sleep, an obstruction blocks the airway, thus causing the affected person to stop breathing. Some of the causes for OSA are:
• Extra tissue in the back of the throat such as enlarged tonsils or uvula.
• The muscles in the airway lose tone or relax too much for the patients build.
• Nasal Obstruction
• Jaw or facial structure such as a recessed chin can contribute to OSA

Common Symptoms

	Snoring, interrupted by pauses in breathing		Large neck size ( > 17" in men, 16" in women)		Difficulty with attention or concentration
	Gasping or choking during sleep		Crouched airway		Irritability
	Restless sleep		Morning headache		Memory loss
	Excessive sleepiness		Sexual dysfunction		High blood pressure
		As shown in the picture, the tissue in the back of the throat has blocked the air (represented in blue) from both the nasal passage and mouth. This blockage causes the affected person to stop breathing until the brain signals the body to wake from sleep. This causes the restless, fragmented sleep that in turn can cause numerous physical and mental side effects.