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| OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA |
| Sleepy People That Snore |
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WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA? | |
| Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused from a partial or complete obstruction of the throat while sleeping. Snoring, daytime sleepiness and fatigue are the most common symptoms of this disorder that may affect up to 10% of adults. Obstructed breathing causes many partial awakenings (arousals), up to 60 or 70 or more per hour. Even though you are not fully awake, this constant disruption to the flow of sleep can cause fatigue sleepiness the next day. Sleep apnea only occurs during sleep because the tongue and soft tissues of the throat are more relaxed at that time. Also, most people sleep while lying down which allows gravity to push the tongue more posteriorly against the throat increasing the tendency to snore and obstruct. | |
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What happens in sleep apnea? Panel A shows a normal sized tongue, soft palate, uvula and throat. Panel B shows how these structures are enlarged in apnea patients |
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