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.
