Word parts
What it means
During sleep the muscles of the throat relax and the airway collapses, so breathing stops for 10 seconds or more many times a night. The person wakes briefly to breathe, often without knowing it. Loud snoring, gasping and daytime sleepiness are common. Obesity is the main risk factor. Untreated, it raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and accidents. CPAPSEE-papContinuous positive airway pressure: a steady flow of pressurized air through a mask that keeps the airway open.Full entry at night is the usual treatment.
For the nurse
Ask clients with OSA to bring their CPAP machine to the hospital. They are sensitive to opioids and sedatives, so watch breathing and oxygen saturation closely, especially after surgery.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | OSA |
|---|---|
| Spanish | apnea obstructiva del sueño |
| Also written | OSA |
Related terms
apnea
A pause in breathing, or breathing that has stopped.
airway
The passages that carry air into and out of the lungs, from the nose and mouth to the smallest air tubes.
obstruction
A blockage in a passage of the body, such as an airway, the bowel, a blood vessel or a tube.
BiPAP
Bilevel positive airway pressure: breathing support through a mask that gives one pressure on breathing in and a lower one on breathing out.
CPAP
Continuous positive airway pressure: a steady flow of pressurized air through a mask that keeps the airway open.