For those patients with significant OSA, going to sleep can pose a significant health risk. Obstructive apneas produce profound haemodynamic changes. Each obstructive event is associated with cyclical increases in systemic and pulmonary artery pressure. The apnea related hypoxemia can cause O2 saturation to drop, sometimes dramatically.

Cardiac arrhythmias during sleep are often associated with OSA. Usually bradyarrythmias are observed, although ventricular tachycardia is noted occasionally in cases of severe hypoxemia. There are several reports suggesting increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke and death with OSA .

Long term physiological effects also include an increased risk for the development of hypertension,. as well as increased risk under anesthesia, and during recovery. Children with OSA (usually caused by tonsillar hypertrophy) can suffer from impaired growth, weight loss, poor concentration and other behavior problems. Recent reports suggest a causal role of pediatric OSA in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Impairment of daytime functioning in OSA patients ranges from mild to severe. Although excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) may be the primary effect of chronic sleep disturbance and hypoxemia, some patients may not even be aware of (or deny) their sleepiness. More subtle but just as important are other manifestations of EDS such as symptoms of tiredness, fatigue, depression, memory and judgment problems, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and personality changes.

Victims of OSA are more likely to fall asleep at inappropriate times and have a higher rate of automobile crashes and work- related accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that approximately 56,000 police- reported crashes per year result from drivers who were asleep at the wheel.

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