Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Overview and Treatment Options: A Review

There are different forms of sleep apnea, each with different causes. Fortunately, they are all treatable. 1] Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the upper airways relax and become blocked during sleep. It is often accompanied by loud snoring or snorting. OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea, 2] Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain stops sending signals to the respiratory muscles while sleeping. Although the airways remain open, breathing stops. CSA is less common than OSA, 3] Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea, and Common to all of these disorders is the occurrence of apneas and hypopneas. Apnea is when the muscles and soft tissues in the upper airways slacken and collapse to the point that they are completely blocked for 10 seconds or more. Hypopnea is a partial blockage of the airways that decreases airflow by more than 50% for 10 seconds or more.