You may be having this condition if you are experiencing unexplained and excessive daytime sleepiness, disturbed sleep or loud snoring frequently accompanied by intermittent silence followed by choking/ gasps for air.
Some people may also experience headaches, insomnia, unexplained weight gain, mood changes, lack of focus, increased blood pressure/ heart rate and gastric reflux.
This condition is caused by obstructions along the upper airway passage during sleep, which causes episodes of reduced breathing with a resulting drop in oxygen saturation. Obstructive sleep apnoea is typically accompanied by snoring and is mostly observed by an accompanying person rather than the patient himself/ herself.
Diagnosis of this condition involves polysomnography (sleep study), where the severity of sleep apnoea is measured in number of such events per hour (Apnoea- hypopnea Index); or with a home oximetry device.
Treatments for obstructive sleep apnoea can range from non- invasive devices like a CPAP to surgery to increase the airway passage or reduce obstructions.