Do you SNORE?
Do you wake up CHOKING and GASPING for breath?
Are you TIRED after a full night's sleep?
|
|
If you answered yes to any of these questions you may have a condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. (OSA)
OSA is a life-altering condition that is treatable
|
|
|
|
|
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious, potentially life-altering and life-threatening condition that is:
|
|
|
|
OSA is when a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep because the airway collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs.
|
|
|
During sleep, relaxation of the muscles at the base of the throat causes the airway to close. This condition causes extremely loud snoring, followed by silent periods when breathing has stopped. These episodes where breathing ceases are called apneas. During apnea episodes, blood oxygen levels drop dramatically.
|
|
If untreated, OSA may cause:
|
|
|
High Blood Pressure
Heart Disease
Stroke
|
|
|
If you believe you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, talk to your doctor.
|
|
|
Who is likely to have OSA?
|
|
|
Millions of people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
|
|
In fact:
|
|
|
4 out of every 100 men
2 out of every 100 women
|
|
|
|
are affected by this sleep disorder and many are unaware.
|
|
|
What are the symptoms of OSA?
|
|
Excessively loud snoring
Gasping and choking for breath
Frequent awakening during the night
Morning Fatigue
Abnormal daytime sleepiness or fatigue
Headaches
Excess weight
Limited attention
Memory loss
|
|
Recent studies indicate a strong link between OSA and HYPERTENSION. Untreated OSA may cause high blood pressure.
|
|
|
What happens if OSA
is left untreated?
|
|
The consequences of ignoring OSA may extend beyond your physical health. Besides, risking hypertension, heart disease or a stroke, you may be endangering yourself or others.
Consider the possible long-term effects of low oxygen levels combined with chronic fatigue:
|
|
Work-related accidents
Falling asleep while driving
Lower quality of life due to:
|
|
|
|
-inattentiveness
-memory loss
-falling asleep during the day
|
|
|
|
|
- Talk to your doctor about your symptoms.
- You will be sent to a sleep lab for a sleep study test. This test will determine if you have OSA.
- Once diagnosed, your doctor will refer you to a sleep therapy provider who will talk to you about medical devices that treat OSA.
|
|
|
Talk to your doctor now, it may save your life.
|
|