Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep disorder affecting approximately 50 million Americans. This condition prevents patients from getting the recommended seven to nine hours of good sleep each night.

OSA is characterized by repeated breathing interruptions due to tissue collapse in the throat, which prevents airflow into the lungs and causes oxygen starvation. These episodes may, depending on severity, occur multiple times per hour leading to an interrupted and unrestful sleep pattern and ultimate to damage to the heart, vessels and brain.

Signs and Treatment 

Snoring is commonly observed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), but it is important to understand that OSA can be present even if patients do not snore or even if they do not have common sleep apnea symptoms such as:

• morning headaches,
• daytime fatigue and sleepiness, or
• depression and anxiety

OSA can be diagnosed through a sleep study that can either be done at home (home sleep study) or in a dedicated sleep lab.

It is very important to treat OSA to avoid complications such as heart attacks and strokes. Depending on how severe sleep apnea is, there are a variety of treatment options. While continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered standard of care, patients who are unable to use CPAP are encouraged to make an appointment with our specialists to learn more about other treatment options. 

The goal of sleep surgery is to reduce body obstruction in the nose, palate, throat, and along the tongue – while addressing patient concerns and symptoms to treat OSA and improve quality of life.

Do you think you might have OSA? Call 216-778-4391 to make an appointment with a specialist today.