OSA Facts & Figures

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OSA FACTS AND FIGURES

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused by an obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, interrupting airflow and reducing blood oxygen levels. The dangers of sleep apnea are very real. Common signs include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep. Sufferers stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer, up to hundreds of times per night, often reducing blood oxygen to dangerously low levels. Sleep Apnea robs the blood of oxygen and causes heavy stress on the heart, blood vessels, and organs.

Signs and Symptoms of OSA:

  • Lack of Energy
  • Morning Headaches
  • Frequent Urination during the Night
  • Depression
  • Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)
  • Nighttime Gasping, Choking or Coughing
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux (gastric reflux)
  • Irregular Breathing During Sleep

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea or OSA

  • Obesity
  • Diagnosis of hypertension or high blood pressure
  • Large neck circumference
  • Male gender
  • Excessive use of alcohol of sedatives
  • Upper airway or facial abnormalities
  • Smoking
  • Family history of OSA
  • Endocrine and metabolic disorders

More than 43 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.

  • To put this into perspective, according to AAA, approximately the same number of Americans-43 Million- traveled for Thanksgiving in 2012.
  • Over 85 percent of people with OSA don't know it-yet this syndrome can be deadly
  • OSA can occur in anyone, though it is more come in men, adults and obese patients.
  • Patients with OSA are at an increased risk of other chronic diseases and accidents:
  • 2x the risk of stroke
  • 4x risk of mortality within four years
  • 5x risk of cardiovascular event
  • 7x risk of motor vehicle accident (30% of accidents involving commercial truck drivers are sleep related)
  • OSA frequently coexist with obesity, depression, diabetes, stroke, hypertension and erectile dysfunction, and can cause or aggravate these conditions.

If your doctor suspects you have sleep apnea, he or she may ask that you complete a sleep test. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor will decide on either ordering a sleep study done in a sleep center like Frontier Diagnostic Sleep, or another option would be a home sleep study. Frontier Diagnostic Sleep Center can provide either of those services.

The good news is that if you suffer from sleep apnea or OSA, you can take control and reduce your health risks. The improvement to your health will begin within days of starting sleep apnea treatment.