What is sleep apnea?

[Text on screen: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
What is sleep apnea?]

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[Text on screen: Meena Khan, MD
Sleep medicine specialist
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center]

Meena Khan, MD: Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition where somebody has that their airway closes on and off or intermittently during sleep, typically behind their soft palate and their tongue. Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can be waking up tired even though someone feels like they've slept through the night. Knowingly waking up through the night, having headaches in the morning, and bed partners can notice snoring during sleep, as well as somebody holding their breath or having apneas during sleep. 

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They may be unaware of it, but typically people who have obstructive sleep apnea will notice that they're waking up tired. They're tired during the day. Sometimes other signs can be dry mouth or morning headaches, for those who don't have bed partners.

So the risks of untreated obstructive sleep apnea can be development of hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and even death. And there have been studies that associate untreated obstructive sleep apnea with development of memory issues as well. 

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Ohio State University can offer a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan for your sleep issues or sleep concerns for obstructive sleep apnea. We can talk to you about the symptoms, evaluate with the sleep study, offer various treatments, and follow you and see how you're dealing with those.

[Text on screen: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
For more information, visit: wexnermedical.osu.edu/sleepapneaCPAP]

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