Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which the throat closes again and again during sleep, briefly stopping breathing. It causes loud snoring, choking or gasping at night and heavy sleepiness during the day, and raises the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems and road accidents. It is very treatable. Dr A. Ashok Kumar in Chittoor evaluates snoring and sleep apnea and guides treatment such as CPAP and weight management. Poor sleep or sleeplessness (insomnia) can also come from night cough, breathlessness, acid reflux, stress or sleep habits, and he checks for these causes.
Common symptoms of snoring, sleep apnea & sleeplessness
- Loud, regular snoring
- Breathing pauses noticed by family
- Waking up choking or gasping
- Morning headache and dry mouth
- Daytime sleepiness, dozing while driving or watching TV
- Poor concentration
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
Get urgent care if you have
- Falling asleep while driving
- Very high blood pressure with breathlessness or leg swelling
Emergency? Call 093448 53689 or 108, or go to the nearest hospital.
Causes and risk factors
Excess weight, a thick neck, large tonsils, nasal blockage, alcohol at night, sleeping pills and smoking.
Tests that help
Oxygen level (SpO₂) and blood gas checks
A small clip on the finger reads oxygen level at rest and while walking. In the ICU an arterial blood gas test measures oxygen and carbon dioxide directly to guide oxygen and ventilator support.
Pulmonary function test (PFT) / spirometry
You blow hard into a tube while a machine measures how much air your lungs hold and how fast you can push it out. It confirms asthma or COPD, shows how severe it is and tracks whether treatment is working. Where needed, lung volumes and DLCO (how well oxygen passes into the blood) are also measured.
How Dr Ashok manages it
- Sleep history and screening questionnaires
- Sleep study to confirm and grade sleep apnea
- CPAP therapy: a small machine that keeps the airway open during sleep
- Weight, nasal and positional treatment
- Management of linked BP, sugar and heart problems
- Finding the causes of sleeplessness: night cough, breathlessness, reflux, pain, stress and sleep habits
- Sleep-habit (sleep hygiene) advice before considering any sleeping tablets
Living well
- Lose weight if overweight
- Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills at night
- Sleep on your side
- Use CPAP every night if prescribed
- Keep fixed sleep and wake times; avoid screens, tea and coffee late at night
Questions patients ask
Is snoring always a problem?
Not always. Simple snoring can be harmless, but snoring with pauses, gasping or daytime sleepiness suggests sleep apnea and should be checked.
What is CPAP?
CPAP is a small bedside machine that blows gentle air through a mask to keep the throat open during sleep. Most people feel more rested within days of regular use.
Can lung problems cause sleeplessness?
Yes. Night cough, wheezing, breathlessness and sleep apnea all break sleep. Treating them often improves sleep without needing sleeping tablets.