Patient/caregiver were instructed regarding pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea as follows:
- Obstructive sleep apnea is a relatively more common type of sleep apnea, arising due to poorly functioning airway muscles in the throat.
- Appropriate tension in these muscles is needed to properly support anatomical structures in the throat, such as, the soft palate (the posterior portion of roof of the mouth), uvula (the soft tissue hanging from the soft palate in the back of the mouth), and the tongue.
- For many reasons, the airway muscles in the throat could become lax, lose the tension, and remain relaxed.
- Loss of tension in these muscles could poorly support the soft palate, uvula, and the tongue, which can narrow or close the respiratory airway.
- Narrowing or closure of the respiratory airway can also occur secondary to factors, such as, excessive fat deposits around the airways closing in on them, enlarged tonsils in the neck exerting pressure on the airways and closing in on them, and/or chronic nasal congestion leading to narrowing of airways.
- This narrowing or closure of the respiratory airways can result in interrupted breathing pattern and respiratory pause, contributing to development of sleep apnea.
- So, obstructive sleep apnea is a type of sleep apnea with narrowing or closure of respiratory airways being the major contributory factor.
