More than 54 million Americans have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, also known as OSA, a condition that causes complete or partial airway collapse during sleep, sometimes multiple times during a night’s sleep.
We had the chance to talk to Dr. Seema Khosla, the Medical Director at the North Dakota Center for Sleep, about obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Khosla says that the airway collapses cause our carbon dioxide levels to rise, causing the brain to wake up.
OSA can lead to strokes and heart diseases, but a majority of those that have OSA are undiagnosed.
We also spoke to Dr. Miranda Chappel-Farley, a sleep researcher diagnosed with OSA when she was 21 years old. She recalls having symptoms of OSA when she was little, like her friends complaining about her snoring at sleepovers.
A recent survey conducted by ApniMed shows that OSA has personal social and mental effects on those suffering from the condition. Not only does OSA increase long term health problems, but light has started to be shed on how those suffering and their loved ones are being affected every day.
It is important to pay attention to your sleeping habits and to see a professional if you experience symptoms of OSA.
For more information, visit OSASurvey.com. To watch the segment, visit The Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.