Surgeon explains sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep

Obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, as per an ENT surgeon.

Do you also know anyone who is suffering from sleep apnea? The common sleep-related breathing disorder is characterised by repeated episodes of complete or partial airway obstruction during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing.

Obstructive sleep apnea is believed to happen because there is an obstruction in your upper airway, and this happens when you are in deep sleep, Dr Chakravarthy said. (Representatve picture: Freepik)

In an old video shared on Instagram by SPARSH Hospitals, Dr M Kalyan Chakravarthy, an ENT surgeon at SPARSH Hospital, provided crucial information about obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The doctor explained that if left untreated, OSA can lead to serious long-term health issues such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes, potentially reducing one's lifespan and common symptoms include loud snoring and daytime fatigue.

‘Sleep apnea can even shorten the span of your life’

He said, “Your throat muscles relax and they collapse, leading to the obstruction. Whereas in children, large tonsils adenoids cause the obstruction. So, how do we deal with this? First thing you have to do is get in touch with your ENT surgeon because they are the people who would be able to diagnose this, investigate it, and offer treatment for this.”

Want to manage sleep apnea? Click here for pulmonologist-approved tips about lifestyle changes and breathing exercises for a better sleep environment and improved sleep quality.

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This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.