Patna: A significant number of young people in Bihar are falling prey to a new and serious condition known as sleep apnea. Particularly, youth aged 18 to 30 residing in urban areas are experiencing an increase in snoring and cessation of breathing during sleep. A startling revelation from a study conducted by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) on 12.45 lakh young individuals shows that approximately 40 out of every 100 young patients visiting Chest and Respiratory OPDs complain of snoring.

Previously, this issue was predominantly observed in older adults, but now, changing lifestyles, irregular eating habits, lack of physical activity, increasing obesity, and mental stress are contributing to its prevalence among the youth. Dr. Satyadev Chaubey, a respiratory specialist, and Dr. Manish Shankar, a physician at IGIMS, explained that obesity leads to blockages in the respiratory tract, causing snoring and, at times, breathing cessation during sleep.

Persistent loud snoring can be a symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which negatively impacts sleep quality. This can result in daytime fatigue, reduced concentration, and morning headaches. If left untreated for extended periods, it can also lead to severe conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and Type-2 diabetes. Doctors have urged young people to improve their lifestyles, manage obesity, and take snoring problems seriously by consulting a physician. They have also specifically advised caution while driving, as individuals with sleep apnea may experience sudden drowsiness during the day.