Apnoea is the pause in breathing, and apnoea literally means "without breath". The duration of an apnoea can be anywhere between ten seconds to minutes, and the frequency of apnoeas can range anywhere between 5 to 30 times per hour. Obstructive sleep apnoea is the most common type of sleep apnoea. OSA is commonly accompanied with snoring. This type of sleep apnoea is caused by obstruction of the upper respiratory tract or simply the upper airway. A typical apnoea lasts between 20 to 40 seconds in this type of disorder. The person suffering from this disorder is often unaware of it, and it is recognized by others who witness the person having difficulty to breathe while sleeping, and also by its effects on the body. A simple sleep study or "polysomnogram", as the test is officially called, can diagnose the disorder overnight. Symptoms of OSA: Symptoms of this disorder may be present for years or even decades without being noticed or identified, and during this period the individual suffering from it may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue that accompany significant levels of sleep disturbance. People who sleep alone are often unaware of the condition, if they have it, as they have no regular bed-partner to notice their symptoms. Common symptoms of OSA include loud snoring, unexplained daytime sleepiness, and restless sleep. Less common symptoms are insomnia, morning headaches, and mood changes such as anxiety, depression and irritability. Other less common symptoms are increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, frequent heartburn, weight gain without reason, and increased urination, heavy sweating at nights, gastro esophageal reflux disease, and decreased sex drive. Treatment for OSA: From a variety of treatments, the treatment to be followed is determined by the patient's medical history, the severity of the disorder, and the specific cause of the obstruction. Some treatments require lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol and avoiding some medications. Losing weight and quitting smoking are other required changes in some cases. Some people are cured by special pillows or devices that keep them from sleeping on their back, or oral appliances which help in keeping the airway open during sleep. For people suffering severely and who cannot be helped by such conservative methods, doctors can recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), in which a face mask is attached to a tube and a machine that blows pressurized air into the mask and through the airway to keep it open. There are also surgical procedures intended to remove and tighten tissue and widen the airway, hence clearing the tract and solving the issue of blockage. Some individuals may need a combination of therapies to successfully treat their condition.
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