69-year-old music composer and singer Bappi Lahiri dies of obstructive sleep apnea; here’s what the health condition means – Times of India

Dr Deepak Namjoshi, director of the hospital, told PTI, “Lahiri had been admitted to the hospital for a month and was discharged on Monday. But his health deteriorated on Tuesday and his family called for a doctor to visit their home. He was brought to the hospital. He had multiple health issues. He died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight”. He was last seen in one of the weekend episodes of Bigg Boss 15 with Salman Khan.

What is obstructive sleep apnea


There are several sleep apnea disorders, out of which obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common breathing disorder. It is when a person repeatedly stops and starts breathing in sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the condition in which your upper airway is blocked by something while you sleep. Due to the blockage, a person’s diaphragm and chest muscles work harder to open the airway to pull air into the lungs. In such episodes, a person’s breath becomes shallow, or he may stop breathing briefly and then breathe again with a loud jerk or gasp. Those suffering from OSA may not sleep well but they probably won’t know that it’s happening with them.

This normally occurs when the airway muscles relax more than they should, thereby narrowing your throat. People wake up to open the airway and may not even remember doing it. In acute cases, it may occur multiple times in a hour. Obesity, inflammed tonsils and even health issues like endocrine disorders or heart failure can cause OSA.

Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea


Loud snoring is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea. Other signs include

Excessive daytime sleepiness

Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep

Abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking

Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat

Morning headache

Difficulty concentrating during the day

Mood changes, such as depression or irritability

High blood pressure

Decreased libido

Treatment of sleep apnea


There are treatments available for obstructive sleep apnea. One of the more common treatments is using a device to keep positive pressure in your airway to ensure they are open while you sleep. Doctors also use a mouthpiece to push your lower jaw forward during sleep. Surgery is also an option in some cases.