Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is when someone's breathing stops or gets very shallow during sleep. This happens because their airway gets blocked when the muscles in the head and neck relax. Many people with OSA do not know they have it.
Sleep apnea can be treated and managing it before and after surgery makes surgery safer and helps you recover faster.
If you have sleep apnea, getting treatment can:
- Prevent serious health problems over time such as stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney problems
- Prevent daytime sleepiness, which can increase the risk of car accidents or injuries
- Decrease the risk of breathing problems while under anesthesia (the medicine that puts you to sleep for surgery)
- Increase your oxygen levels
- Prevent abnormal heart rhythms and heart attacks
- Shorten your hospital stay and reduce complications during recovery
How is Sleep Apnea Found?
Your health care team will ask you some questions to see if you may have sleep apnea. If they think you may have sleep apnea, a sleep study may be done to check your breathing, heart rate, and oxygen while you sleep. This can be done at home or in a lab.
Talk to your health care team if:
- You snore loudly, gasp, or stop breathing at night
- You feel very tired or sleepy during the day
- You were told you might have sleep apnea but have not been tested yet
- Your CPAP or other treatment is uncomfortable or you have stopped using it
What Can You Do Before Surgery?
If You Have Sleep Apnea
- Keep using your treatment device (CPAP, BPAP, or mouthguard) every night, including the nights before and after surgery
- Bring your machine to the hospital, even for day surgery
- Talk to your health care team if you have stopped using your treatment
- Ask your primary care provider to send your sleep study results to your surgical team
If Your Health Care Team Thinks You May Have Sleep Apnea
- Your health care team may suggest a Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) or a sleep study in a lab
- Your health care team may suggest starting treatment (CPAP) prior to your surgery
How To Stay Safe After Surgery
These tips apply whether you have a sleep apnea diagnosis or are waiting for testing:
- Use your prescribed treatment (e.g., CPAP) every time you nap or sleep for the first week after surgery
- Avoid sleeping flat on your back - sleep on your side or with your shoulders slightly raised with pillows
- Avoid alcohol, cannabis, and sedating medications unless your health care team says it is okay
- Use the lowest dose of pain medication you can. Non-sedating options like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen are often safer
- Talk to your health care team about other pain control options like nerve blocks or epidurals to reduce your need for sedating medications
- Your health care team will watch your breathing carefully. You may need extra observation or to stay in the hospital overnight
Where To Learn More
Learn more about sleep apnea at Healthlink BC