Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleeping disorder caused by inadequate airflow during sleep, resulting in frequent pauses in breathing throughout the night, lasting from 10 seconds up to 120 seconds at a time.  The breaks in breathing are caused by the airway being partially or fully blocked by fatty tissue in the neck or throat or by the uvula (the small tissue hanging at the back of the throat). These pauses cause oxygen levels to drop and the disorder has been linked to heart diseases; stroke; high blood pressure and obesity leading to Type 2 Diabetes.

OSA can be the underlying cause behind traffic accidents as those who are suffering with the disorder become over tired through lack of restful night time sleep and susceptible to memory lapses, lack in concentration and general exhaustion over time.  Even more worrying, most sufferers of sleep apnea are not diagnosed as they have no idea they are affected by it.

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