Sleep is one of the most relaxing and refreshing human activities. Who wouldn’t love a good night’s sleep? However, for some, a good night’s sleep may not suffice. They often feel sleepy during the daytime as well.
For some individuals, a restful night’s sleep is adequate to feel refreshed. In contrast, others may still feel restless and irritable despite a whole night’s rest. Sleep quality varies, with some experiencing deep, uninterrupted sleep while others find their sleep frequently interrupted by issues like dry mouth or for no apparent reason.
Sleep problems can significantly impact one’s entire day. People lacking proper sleep often exhibit irritability, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and perpetual drowsiness, affecting their daily tasks and overall productivity.
So, Are You Suffering from Sleep Problems?
Do you still feel tired despite getting sufficient sleep? Is your sleep frequently interrupted without reason? Have you developed a habit of snoring inexplicably? Is your sleep, or lack thereof, disrupting your life and making it challenging?
If so, you may be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The good news is that a simple search for a sleep apnea specialist near me or sleep disorder doctor near me on Google can help address and solve your problem.
However, it’s crucial to understand the condition before consulting a doctor. So, what exactly is obstructive sleep apnea? What causes it? How can you identify it, and what are the potential treatment options? With insights from the top pulmonologist in Karimnagar, Dr. Raj Kumar, let’s explore these questions in this blog.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a severe sleep disorder that occurs due to breathing interruptions during sleep.
“These breathing disruptions are caused by the narrowing or collapse of the airways, which lead to reduced airflow due to shallow breaths or even complete pauses in breathing (for more than a few seconds). This reduced supply of oxygen to the brain triggers one to wake up briefly to resume breathing by opening the airways, which results in sleep disruption,” according to Dr. Raj Kumar Korra, a lung doctor in Karimnagar.
In most cases, these sleep disruptions happen unaware of the person. They can occur twice or many times, causing sub-quality sleep. When left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can increase the risk of health problems like hypertension, heart disease, and impaired cognitive function. But what exactly causes obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Causes & Symptoms:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea can have many causes, making a large number of people susceptible to this sleep disorder. Some of the contributing risk factors that can increase the chance of sleep apnea are:
- Abnormal Anatomy:Individuals with a narrow throat, enlarged tonsils, tongue, or uvula are more prone to developing obstructive sleep apnea.
- Medical Conditions:Allergies, nasal congestion, and hormonal conditions can trigger OSA.
- Body Weight:Abnormally high body weight can also lead to OSA due to the narrowing of airways.
- Age and Gender:Men are more prone to sleep apnea. Older adults, due to a decrease in muscle tone, are at higher risk. So, older male adults suffer more risk of sleep apnea than their counterparts.
- Genetics:In a few cases, sleep apnea usually runs in the family, making genetics a key factor.
- Alcohol & Smoking: Alcohol before bedtime tends to relax the throat muscles, leading to airway collapse. Similarly, smoking can inflame and make the airways swell, narrowing them and triggering sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea can manifest through various symptoms in patients. Loud snoring, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, excessive daytime sleepiness (even after a whole night’s sleep), restlessness during sleep, waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat, and frequent urination at night are some of the common symptoms we often see in our patients at Lalitha Chest and Skin Hospital in Karimnagar.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Sleep Disorder Treatment in Karimnagar
Obstructive sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder with profound implications when left untreated. However, based on the severity, the symptoms of this sleep disorder vary, and so do the treatment options. In mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea, lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol before bed, and oral appliances can help in treating this sleep disorder. In severe cases, slightly more advanced treatment options like CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) and airway reshaping surgery are considered adequate, according to the best pulmonologist in Karimnagar, Dr. Raj Kumar Korra.
Looking to get rid of your sleep problems and strive for a refreshing good night’s sleep? Prompt treatment of any possible sleep disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea can help you achieve better sleep quality. If you are looking for obstructive sleep apnea specialist or sleep disorder doctor in Karimnagar, you can contact a sleep disorder specialist and pulmonologist, Dr. Raj Kumar Korra, here.
