OT More on Sleep Apnea

Obesity and middle age-ness are major risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea, but the truth is, skinny people, infants, etc, can have it. It doesn't follow that fat=OSA or older=OSA, any more than skinny and/or young=can't possibly have OSA. Genetics play a large role in whether or not someone suffers from OSA-- much depends on the firmness of the tissues of the soft palate and pharynx-- someone who has nice firm tissues at the back of their mouth and throat is probably not going to have their airway collapse and cut off their airway when they relax into sleep. Someone, even a skinny young someone, who has loose, floppy tissue probably will have OSA.

If your sleeping partner has complained of your snoring and/or gasping and/or holding your breath during sleep, if you struggle to stay awake anytime you sit still (church, movies, in front of the TV, driving, at your desk at work), if you're beyond tired all the time, if you wake up and stare at the clock, etc, over and over again all night, if you wake up feeling breathless and smothered, if you suffer from nightmares or night terrors, if you thrash around in the bed all night and end up with the covers all in a jumble or on the floor or wrapped around you like a cocoon, if you sweat at night, talk in your sleep, sleep walk, or if you require sleeping meds to drop off, stay asleep, or feel as though you've even closed your eyes-- those can all be hallmarks of OSA.

Treatment starts with a good sleep study in a reputable sleep center. If an OSA diagnosis is made, the simplest, most effective, least painful way of managing it (and some, me included, would swear really the only good way of managing it) is use of a CPAP machine while sleeping. Believe me, it can be a really hard thing to get used to, but once you're acclimated to the reality of wearing a mask, it can be marvelous to be able to breathe, really sleep, and wake up feeling alive and ready to take on the day.