Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which your upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. This causes breathing pauses and broken sleep. It can also lower oxygen levels. Without treatment, OSA is linked to problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and accidents caused by sleepiness.

Snoring with witnessed breathing pauses, choking, or gasping raises concern for obstructive sleep apnea. Daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and trouble focusing can also be signs. Snoring alone does not prove you have OSA, and quiet sleep does not rule it out. A sleep test is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Obstructive sleep apnea can affect people of any body size. Risk is higher with excess weight, a narrow airway, large tonsils, older age, or a family history of OSA. Alcohol and some sedating medicines can worsen nighttime breathing. A clinician can review your risks, but a sleep test establishes the diagnosis.

Obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed with a sleep test, either at home or in a sleep lab. The test records breathing and oxygen levels; a lab study also measures sleep stages. A physician chooses the right test based on your symptoms, health history, and risk of other sleep or breathing problems.

CPAP treats obstructive sleep apnea by sending gentle, steady air pressure through a mask to keep your airway open during sleep. It does not breathe for you. It can reduce breathing pauses and daytime sleepiness when used as directed. Results vary. A physician selects the device and pressure settings for you.

A custom oral appliance may be an option for some adults with obstructive sleep apnea, including those who cannot tolerate CPAP. It holds the lower jaw forward to help keep the airway open. Results vary. A sleep physician and a licensed dentist in your state should guide selection, fitting, and follow-up.

Weight loss, when appropriate, and side sleeping may reduce obstructive sleep apnea symptoms or severity in some people. Results vary. These steps do not reliably replace CPAP or another prescribed treatment. Keep using your treatment until your physician reviews your progress and decides whether repeat sleep testing or changes are needed.

Medication may be part of obstructive sleep apnea care for selected adults, but it is not a substitute for evaluation or prescribed airway treatment. Some medicines address obesity or ongoing daytime sleepiness. Results vary. A licensed physician in your state decides whether medication fits your diagnosis, health history, and current treatment.

Surgery or an implanted device may be considered for obstructive sleep apnea when other treatments are not suitable or cannot be tolerated. Options depend on where the airway narrows, your sleep test results, and your overall health. Results vary. A specialist must assess the risks and whether you meet the treatment criteria.

Obstructive sleep apnea treatment is checked through symptoms, device data when available, and sometimes another sleep test. Less snoring or better energy can be encouraging, but neither proves that breathing is fully controlled. Results vary. Keep follow-up visits and do not stop treatment without your physician's review, even if you feel better.