Repeated cycles of decreased oxygen levels lead to very serious heart problems. Additionally, these individuals suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, and loss of concentration.
Some patients have obstructions that are less severe called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS). In either case, the individuals suffer many of the same symptoms.
The first step in treatment resides in recognition of the symptoms and seeking appropriate consultation. In addition to a detailed history, the doctors will assess the anatomic relationships in the mouth and throat. With x-ray analysis, the doctors can determine the level of obstruction. Sometimes a small camera is used through the nasal airway to assess the site of obstruction. The gold standard for diagnosing OSA is an overnight sleep study, called a Polysomnogram.
There are several treatment options available. The Gold-Standard Treatment consists of using a nasal CPAP machine that delivers pressurized oxygen through a nasal mask to limit obstruction at night.
For those patients who cannot tolerate CPAP, several surgical options exist for treating OSA. Some soft palate procedures have been shown to have limited success. A procedure with a higher success rate is Orthognathic/Telegnathic Surgery, in which the upper and lower jaws are surgically advanced to move the base of the tongue forward, thus opening the airway and preventing the tongue from obstructing it. This procedure is done in the hospital under general anesthesia and requires a one to two day stay in the hospital.
OSA is a very serious condition that needs careful attention and treatment. Dr. Butterfield is Co-Director of the Ottawa Surgical Sleep Apnea clinic, which can be found here.