Also see ats patient information series fact sheet on sleep studies. Obstructive sleep apnea. Signs Symptoms And Risks Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Sleep Apnea During a sleep study your breathing heart rate and oxygen levels will be monitored. Obstructive sleep apnea pdf . How is obstructive sleep apnea treated. In this treatment a machine delivers air pressure through a piece that fits into your nose or is placed over your nose and mouth while you sleep. It occurs when the muscles relax during sleep causing soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the upper airway. Sleep apnea can be effectively treated and there are a number of ways to do so. Obstructive sleep apnea osa is a sleep related breathing disorder that involves a decrease or complete halt in airflow despite an ongoing effort to breathe. 19960649 crossref medline google scholar. 1993 the condition is characterized by repetitive episodes of complete or partial collapse of the upper airwa...