Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea, or simply ‘sleep apnea,’ is a disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep. OSA occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway fully open, despite efforts to breathe. When the body realizes this, it reacts by waking the person momentarily to take a breath and reopen the airway. This is what causes the gasping that bed partners recognize between bouts of snoring.

OSA is a serious, potentially life-threatening breathing disorder which affects an estimated 20 million Americans, equally as common as asthma and diabetes. Estimates suggest that up to 85-90% of individuals with sleep apnea go undiagnosed and untreated.

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke are all commonly known health concerns. OSA can play a major role in the development of these conditions.