Obstructive sleep apnea

The second type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea or obstructive apnea. In obstructive sleep apnea, the upper airway is blocked during sleep by the tissue of the soft palate, throat, and/or tongue. This blockage in obstructive sleep apnea can result from a number of anatomic factors and irregularities in the breathing reflex.

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

A person with obstructive apnea struggles to breathe against the obstructed airway. The chest of the person with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome moves in and out but the air cannot flow into and out of his or her lungs. Soon the oxygen level in the person with obstructive sleep apnea drops and the person wakes up with a loud, gasping, snorting sound.

People with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome may have one or more anatomic abnormalities associated with their uppoer airway. The airway is the passage in their nose and pharynx or throat. These abnormalities in persons with obstructive sleep apnea can be seen in head radiograph images.

Causes of obstructive sleep apnea

Body weight is often a factor in the development of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Many patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are more than 15% over their ideal weight. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in overweight people.

Age can also be a cause of obstructive sleep apnea. The shape and muscle tone of a person 's upper airway tend to change with age. So, more older people get obstructive sleep apnea than younger people.

Sex is also a factor causing obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is about three times more prevalent among men than women.

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