Do I Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

Do you snore loudly especially while sleeping on your back?

Have you noticed or your bed partner has told you that you have pauses in breathing during sleep?

Do you wake up in the middle of the night gasping or choking?

Do you wake up with in the morning with a dry mouth or sore throat?

Do you have a need to urinate frequently at night (nocturia)?

Are you often extremely sleepy and tired during the day?

Do you have a morning headache?

Do you have mood swings such as depression or irritability?

Do you have difficulty concentrating or memory problems?

Are you overweight, smoker or both?

Do you have any of the following conditions: high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic nasal congestion or asthma?

Do you have a family history of sleep apnea?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by multiple pauses in breathing during sleep. This is a serious condition that can potentially cause damage to your heart. The most common sign of OSA is distinctive loud snoring especially when you sleep on your back. Almost half of adults snore but not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea. If you are constantly tired, sleepy and grumpy in the morning due to a lack of a good night sleep, please consult with your doctor.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Breathing pauses are longer than 10 seconds, causing you to make a snorting, choking or gasping sound during sleep. People with OSA are sometimes unaware of their problem and their bed partners are the first to notice it. Your ENT specialist will advise you to make some lifestyle changes such as avoiding alcohol close to bedtime, pursuing a healthy diet and achieving a weight loss if you are overweight. Consult with your doctor about treatment options.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder in which your airway narrows or closes due to excessive relaxation of the muscles in the back of your throat, resulting in impaired breathing. While sleeping people with OSA have numerous pauses in breathing longer than 10 seconds. This pattern can be repeated more than 30 times every hour during the night. If left untreated OSA can potentially lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Your ENT specialist will recommend you appropriate treatment depending on the severity of your symptoms.