Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be going through Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero definals.com slash obstructive sleep apnea

or in the ear, nose and throat section of the zero

definals surgery book. So let's get straight into it. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by

collapse of the pharyngeal airway at the back of the throat. It's characterized by episodes of apnea during sleep where the patient stops breathing periodically

for up to a few minutes.

The partner usually reports this happening as the patient is unaware of the episodes.

Let's talk about the risk factors.

The risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea are being middle-aged, male, obese, drinking alcohol and smoking.

Next let's talk about the features.

The typical presenting features are episodes of apnea during sleep, which are often reported by their partner.

Snoring, having a morning headache, which is worth remembering, waking up unrefresh from sleep,

daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating and reduced oxygen saturations during sleep.

Severe cases can cause hypertension, heart failure and an increased risk of myocardin

infection or heart attacks and strokes.

Let's talk about the Epworth Sleepiness scale. The Epworth Sleepiness scale is used

to assess symptoms of sleepiness that can be associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

A time tip for you, if you're interviewing someone you suspect has obstructive sleep apnea,

ask about daytime sleepiness and their

occupation. Daytime sleepiness is a crucial feature that should make you think about obstructive

sleep apnea. Patients that need to be fully alert for work, for example heavy goods vehicle

...