What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep apnea caused by obstruction of the airway. It is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas, each last long enough that one or more breaths are missed.

How do members experience obstructive sleep apnea?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with obstructive sleep apnea*

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Unrefreshing or poor sleep
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
CPAP machine Melatonin with theanine Quetiapine
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Modafinil Vitamin B Complex
Common symptom
Waking up during the night
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Aromatherapy Listen to Music Individual Therapy
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Gabapentin Tramadol

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for obstructive sleep apnea*

Treatment
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment

(System One CPAP machine)
Type
Equipment
How many have tried
534
Tried for
obstructive sleep apnea (4)

*Data from patients with obstructive sleep apnea, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with obstructive sleep apnea*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(System One CPAP machine)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
obstructive sleep apnea (4)

*Data from patients with obstructive sleep apnea, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has obstructive sleep apnea on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 3
20s 27
30s 110
40s 292
50s 537
60s 593
70+ 339

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 649
Female 1,237