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Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Everything Important That You Must Know About It

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vivadentalwellness

Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA, as it is referred to as in its abbreviated form, is a medical disorder that is a result of the upper airway getting collapsed repeatedly while an individual is sleeping. It has been regarded as one of the one of the most widespread breathing disorders that is related to sleep.

Ideally, air should move from your nose and mouth into the lungs continuously. This process doesn’t stop even when you are sleeping. There are certain muscles in one’s throat that lend support to the soft tissues. When they relax, the airway gets narrowed or even shuts down for some time. When this happens, your breathing process gets obstructed. This phenomenon of an individual’s breathing getting paused or stopped for a while is referred to as an apneic episode.

Symptoms

When you come across any symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, you must reach out to a doctor immediately. If you have been looking for treatment for sleep apnea in Edmonton, Viva Dental Wellness is one clinic you must check out. One of the most common symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea is daytime sleepiness. Some of the other symptoms of OSA include loud snoring, snorting, choking and breathing interruptions.

A lot of these symptoms can be discovered easily if you make it a point to go for regular health check-ups. People who suffer from OSA could also exhibit symptoms like drowsiness, morning headaches, forgetfulness and feeling grumpy. While OSA most commonly affects adults, children could suffer from it too. A common symptom among children suffering from this condition is hyperactivity.

Causes

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by different factors. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is the term used to describe a breathing disorder that affects those who suffer from obesity. If your weight is on the higher side, there is a risk of you suffering from OSA. Certain endocrine conditions like hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome and acromegaly affect your breathing adversely when you are sleeping.

Another common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is an individual suffering from some form of chronic lung disease like asthma, pulmonary fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A stroke could also result in interference in the transfer of one’s brain signals to the airway and chest muscles. A kidney or heart failure could lead towards fluid building up in one’s neck and causing obstruction in the upper airway.

Risk Factors

There are some people whose physical features are structured in a way that they lead to the upper airway getting narrowed down. Sometimes, lifestyle choices also contribute towards aggravating this condition. Some of the common risk factors associated with this condition include obesity, smoking, large tonsils and a long-standing family history of individuals suffering from OSA.

Michael Stewart is the author of this article.To know more about Sleep apnea Edmonton please stay with our website:vivadentalwellness.com

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