Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that occurs when tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway as you sleep. As a result you may stop breathing up to hundreds of times per night.

The impact of OSA on your health can be severe. Recent research has uncovered evidence linking OSA to disorders and diseases such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk for OSA. The classic sleep apnea patient is a middle-age, overweight man with a large neck size. Overall, men are twice as likely as women to suffer from OSA, but the risk for women increases after menopause. Children are most likely to have OSA if they have large tonsils or adenoids.

Warning signs for OSA include loud and frequent snoring, choking or snorting sounds and pauses in breathing during sleep, and severe daytime sleepiness.

These five steps can help you reduce your risk of suffering from OSA:

1. Maintain a healthy weight.

Dietary weight loss can lower a person’s risk and reduce the severity of OSA.

2. Get a full seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

Sleep seems to play a role in helping the body manage its weight. People who sleep for fewer hours each night tend to have a higher body mass index (BMI) than people who sleep longer. Studies also have linked sleep to some of the hormones that help control body weight and appetite.

3. Avoid drinking alcohol at night.

Alcohol disrupts sleep and can make episodes of OSA more frequent and severe.

4. Schedule a consultation with a sleep specialist.

A person who is at risk for OSA should schedule a consultation with a sleep specialist at an accredited sleep disorders center. A doctor can detect OSA and determine the best treatment option.

5. Use CPAP consistently.

OSA can be treated with positive results. The most common treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). It provides a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask that is worn during sleep. This airflow keeps the airway open, preventing pauses in breathing and restoring normal oxygen levels. For the best results CPAP should be used all night, every night and during every nap.

More Information

Obstructive sleep apnea

Are You at Risk?

Warning Signs for OSA

Eight Health Risks of OSA

Five OSA Myths

CPAP Central

Reviewed by David Kuhlmann, MD
Updated August 2, 2007