Shaq Attacks Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage in the airway. This can be caused by the soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and close during sleep. People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA will stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. The brain briefly wakes the person so they can resume breathing and more often causing them to wake up feeling fatigued. Obstructive sleep apnea treatment may involve using a device to keep your airway open or using a mouthpiece to thrust your jaw forward during sleep. Sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children.
Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Loud snoring
• Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
• Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath
• Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Difficult-to-control high blood pressure
If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, depression and headaches. It may even be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle accidents. Fortunately sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated.
Watch this video of Shaquille O’Neal and his girlfriend as they talk about his diagnosis of sleep apnea and how it is being treated.
