Sleep Disorder Facts

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a very common sleep disorder with major clinical and social consequences, often neglected, under diagnosed and under treated.

OSA Questions to ask a bed partner or tape record:

1. Is there snoring, loudly or quietly, frequently or infrequently, and lying on the back or side?
2. Is there excessive daytime sleepiness?
3. Are there episodes during sleep when breathing stops?
4. Is there “dry” mouth upon waking?
5. Is there excessive urination at night?
6. Is there hypertension?

Facts:
*80 to 90% of patients with OSA are undiagnosed
*When patients are diagnosed with OSA they have, on average, had OSA for 7 years, having seen a family practice physician 17 times, & a specialist 9 times.
*The gold standard for accurate diagnosis of OSA is a polysomnography exam.

Clinical Findings related to OSA:

• Snoring
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Renal damage (Chronic renal failure)
• Cognitive dysfunction (memory loss or Dementia)
• Headaches
• Impotence and over active bladder and nocturia
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Depression, Anxiety, Fatigue
• Fibromyalgia

Treatment of OSA:

• Nonsurgical
• Weight Loss
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) during sleep
• Position Therapy (avoiding the spine position) when sleeping

*Oral devices (oral appliance therapy while sleeping) keep mandible & tongue forward
*Surgical or laser excision or uvolopalatopharyngoplasty, or part of the soft palate above the tongue
*Surgical relief of nasal obstruction, tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, mandibular-maxillary surgery and somnoplasty.

Financing:
Most insurance covers OSA management