Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. OSA is caused by a blockage of the airway when the tongue and soft tissue in the back of the patient's throat collapses and causes an airway obstruction. This is especially a problem for obese patients because the airway can not support the weight of a fatty neck closing down the airway.

          With obstructive sleep apnea the soft palate collapses on the back wall of the upper airway (throat). The patient's tongue then falls backward, collapsing on the back wall of the upper airway. The soft palate forms a tight blockage, preventing any air from entering the lungs. The effort of the diaphragm, the chest and the abdomen only cause the blockage to seal tighter. In order to breathe, the person suffering from sleep apnea must arouse from deep sleep and this causes tension in the tongue and opens the airway in order to allow air to pass into the lungs.

          Obstructive Sleep Apnea causes a drop in the sleep apnea patient's blood oxygen and an increase in the blood's carbon dioxide. When the oxygen in the blood drops, the sleep apnea patient's heart will start pumping more blood with each beat. If the oxygen in the patient's blood continues to drop, the heart will start beating faster and faster. As the carbon dioxide in the sleep apnea patient's blood increases the brain will try to drive the person to breathe. The effort and action of the abdomen and chest will increase. Eventually that action can become severe enough to cause an arousal, clearing the upper airway blockage, allowing the person to breathe.

          The upper airway can be obstructed by excess tissue in the airway, large tonsils, a large tongue and usually includes the airway muscles relaxing and collapsing when asleep. Another site of obstruction can be the nasal passages. Sometimes the structure of the jaw and airway can be a factor. If you are concerned about obstructive sleep apnea and would like to consult with our Sleep Apnea Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, please call and make an appointment at 404-874-7428.