Obstructive Sleep Apnea
 

My Mom was diagnosed with OSA after falling asleep at the wheel on the three hour drive down to see us Thanksgiving. She survived the accident with only minor injuries, thank god.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 12 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, otherwise known as OSA.

People who have OSA repeatedly stop breathing, or experience shallow breathing during sleep. This can happen as often as 300 times a night and can disrupt a person's quantity and quality of sleep.

The most common symptom of OSA is excessive sleepiness.1 Other symptoms of OSA may include morning headaches, dry mouth, snoring, trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, or depression.

A trip to the doctor is always a good first step if you think you have a sleep problem or feel sleepy during the day. There may be underlying problems contributing to your sleepiness.
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How did sleep apnea cause the accident? Sounds like narcolepsy to me...

My father has sleep apnea. It's because he's over 100 lbs. overweight (which is also why he is diabetic).

I'm guessing that not getting good sleep at night causes you to be excessively tired during the day and makes you more likely to fall asleep when you otherwise wouldn't, but I'm just guessing.

Oh, and...

I'm glad to hear that your mother is okay!

Thanks. Yes, OSA makes you overly tired during the day. The accident was at 11:00AM. One should always make stops every two hours while traveling anyway. She said she was tired and looking for a place to stop for coffee before the accident. The car ran into a ditch and rolled. No airbags were deployed as it was not a head on collision. Many people stopped to help she said. The car was declared a total and she just got a new Sonata.

Glad moms OK, my father had the surgery a few years back. Worked like a charm.

Weird thing to say but it might have been a good thing that she had the accident. She survived this one but w/o it, she'd never know she has OSA. Is she getting a C-Pap machine?

A friend of mine was telling me that he had it, and after it was diagnosed and treated his energy level skyrocketed.

very very glad moms ok..

What is the surgery option?

I had my Uvula cut out - cured me of it plus I don't snore (Lost 18 lbs in one week as well!).

oh ya, glad to hear she is OK.

Mike: You're a mess!!!