CHANDIGARH, 15.03.25-Dr. Sandeep Bansal, Professor, Dept of Otolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh addressed the press on the occasion of World Sleep Day, on 15th March, 2025. He said, “Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious disorder which affects millions worldwide but remains widely underdiagnosed. OSA is characterized by repeated episodes of airway obstruction during sleep, leading to breathing pauses, gasping, and fragmented sleep. These interruptions reduce oxygen supply to vital organs, significantly impacting overall health. Globally, OSA affects approximately 1 billion people, with an estimated 11% prevalence in India. Men are affected twice as much as women, and 1-5% of children aged 2-8 years also suffer from it.” He enumerated the risk factors of OSA, primarily being, Obesity, Male gender, lifestyle habits like smoking and alcohol consumption, family history or skeletal abnormalities like a small jaw.

Dr. Jaimanti Bakshi, Professor and Head, Dept of Otolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh highlighted the importance of recognising Children with OSA or predisposing factors like enlarged adenoids or congenital conditions. She said “these children require early intervention, such as adenotonsillectomy, to prevent long term complications of OSA such as memory related problems and growth abnormalities or hypertension and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in later life.”
The Residents of ENT Department raised awareness by demonstrating the common symptoms which include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, mood disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation and sleep studies, such as polysomnography, to monitor breathing and oxygen levels. They also educated the patients regarding treatment options, namely lifestyle changes (weight loss, exercise, avoiding alcohol), CPAP therapy, oral appliances, and surgical interventions for severe cases.
Dr Bansal emphasised that despite its prevalence, OSA remains underdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness. Many normalize their symptoms, unaware of the serious health risks. Healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public must work together to promote awareness, encourage screenings, and improve access to treatment. He said, “By prioritizing sleep health, we can significantly improve the well-being of those affected.”