Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

What is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)?

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition where a person experiences repeated blockage to breathing during sleep. In OSA, the upper airway collapses repeatedly during sleep. This creates an effect similar to that of being repeatedly choked throughout the night.

During these episodes, sleep is interrupted and there are recurrent dips in the blood oxygen levels, putting stress on the heart. As a result, sleep is unrefreshing and you would typically feel sleepy and irritable throughout the day.

How common is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)?

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is common and a worsening global health problem. Recent data from the Singapore Health Study estimated that 30.5 percent of Singapore’s population has moderate to severe OSA. As obesity is a risk factor for OSA, the prevalence of OSA is likely to rise further in the face of the worsening obesity epidemic.

What are some complications from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)?

In addition to causing sleep disruption and daytime symptoms, OSA can increase the risks of serious health complications such as:

• Memory loss
• Stroke (Almost 70% of people who have had a stroke have OSA)
• Hypertension (>35% of people with sleep apnoea suffer from hypertension)
• Diabetes
  
• Depression
  
• Heart failure and heart attacks (by 2 to 3 times)
• Risk of motor vehicle accidents (by 7 times)
• Increased risk of work-related accidents