Health Conditions
OSA
Sleep Apnea
A disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing breathing cessation (apnea) or reduction (hypopnea) lasting 10+ seconds. This leads to intermittent hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and sympathetic nervous system activation. OSA is associated with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive impairment. Diagnosis requires polysomnography, with severity measured by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). While CPAP therapy is the gold standard treatment, supplements like melatonin (for circadian disruption) and omega-3 (for cardiovascular comorbidities) may play supportive roles.