Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)

What is OSA?

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. OSA is the complete obstruction (apnoea) or partial obstruction (hypopnoea) of the upper respiratory airways. It occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax or when the airways are too narrow from the nose to the glottis.

Apnoeas lower the oxygen levels in the blood, which can have severe consequences. The brain senses this impaired breathing and briefly rouses the person from sleep so they can reopen their airway. This awakening is usually so brief that it is not remembered. If there are several episodes in the same night, this results in an interrupted sleep that the patient feels when waking up, and that causes severe daytime drowsiness, mood changes, irritability, depression, anxiety, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and sexual dysfunction.

OSA can also cause hypertension, cardiovascular problems and heart rhythm problems, metabolic disorders, cognitive behavioural disorders, traffic accidents and lower quality of life.

Who is affected by OSA?

OSA can affect people of all ages, including children. However, it is most common in men over 65, women after menopause, or adults with risk factors such as hypertension, excess weight, and smoking and drinking habits.

In Spain, between 6 and 8 % of the population is affected by OSA, 80 % of which is undiagnosed and therefore does not receive appropriate treatment.

OSA symptoms

The most obvious symptom of sleep apnoea is snoring or breathing starting and stopping during sleep. Other symptoms include daytime fatigue and sleepiness, headaches when waking up, and memory loss.