Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Specialists in Telangana

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder in which the muscles supporting the soft tissues of the throat relax excessively during sleep, causing the airway to become partially or completely blocked repeatedly throughout the night. Each obstruction briefly interrupts breathing and lowers blood oxygen levels, prompting the brain to briefly rouse the person to reopen the airway, a cycle that can occur dozens or even hundreds of times per night without the person being fully aware of it. This fragmented, poor-quality sleep leads to significant daytime fatigue and is associated with increased risk of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke if left untreated. The condition is more common in individuals who are overweight, though anatomical factors such as a narrow airway or enlarged tonsils also contribute. Diagnosis typically involves an overnight sleep study, and effective treatments are available to significantly improve symptoms and reduce associated health risks.

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Caused by relaxation of the throat muscles during sleep leading to airway collapse, with risk significantly increased by excess body weight, particularly fat deposits around the neck. Anatomical factors such as a naturally narrow airway, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or a recessed jaw also contribute to risk. Other contributing factors include alcohol consumption before bedtime, smoking, nasal congestion, and family history of the condition.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Loud, chronic snoring, episodes of stopped breathing during sleep witnessed by a bed partner, gasping or choking during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability or mood changes, dry mouth or sore throat upon waking

Treatment & Types of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Telangana

Continuous positive airway pressure therapy, delivered through a mask worn during sleep to keep the airway open, is the most effective and commonly used treatment for moderate to severe cases. Weight loss, positional therapy, and oral appliances that reposition the jaw can help milder cases or be used alongside other treatments. Surgical options to remove or reposition obstructing tissue may be considered when other treatments are ineffective or not tolerated.

Sleep apnoea is classified into obstructive sleep apnoea, caused by physical airway collapse during sleep and by far the most common form, central sleep apnoea, caused by the brain failing to send proper signals to the breathing muscles, and mixed sleep apnoea, involving features of both. Severity within obstructive sleep apnoea is further graded as mild, moderate, or severe based on how many breathing interruptions occur per hour of sleep.

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