What I learned from my obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

1 idea from me, 1 lesson from others & 1 question for you to ponder

1 Idea from Me

“My optimism is not innate. It came from losing some things in life, my health, and almost losing my own son.”

Aaron Pang

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Learning from Others

You'd better start mixing toothpaste with your shampoo. You're getting cavity in your brain.

Archie Bunker

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Question for You to Ponder

Are you a snorer?

Don’t worry, I’m okay!

In the last newsletter, I mentioned I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It occurs when your throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring.

I spent a night sleeping at a hospital nearby. They wired me to a tracking device from head to legs. I’ve shared my symptoms with a few people and OSA turns out to be quite common, and many people have experienced the same symptoms (see below) and some are in their 20s. There were my symptoms:

• I’ve become more forgetful.

• I often wake up with a headache. When they’re bad, I sometimes need to take leave from work.

• I get tired easily throughout the day, I sometimes find it difficult to concentrate.

• My quality of sleep has deteriorated over the years. I feel like I am in a worse state physically and mentally after a full night’s sleep.

• My partner complains to me she can’t get a good night sleep because I’ve been snoring next to her.

Our body is supposed to recharge when we’re sleeping. But OSA makes it difficult for the brain to get enough oxygen. So when your body is supposed to rest, your brain is fighting for oxygen instead. Our brain weighs about 3.3 pounds, about 2.5% of our total body weight. But when it comes to blood and oxygen supply, it demands 20% from our body. Not everyone who snores has OSA, but if you experience headaches when you wake up, and that it’s affecting your well-being, go check it out.

I was recommended to get a device which puts positive pressure to keep my airway open while I sleep. I tried it for a few night, but didn’t like it. When you sleep on your back (supine position), it is easier for your tongue to fall back into your throat, creating an obstruction that can result in snoring. When you sleep on your side (lateral position), your airway stays open, so you can breathe easier. Thankfully, I don’t have OSA when I sleep on the sides. I just force myself to sleep on the sides these days.

Evolve together,

Aaron