Beware, Snoring May be an Indication of Sleep Apnea

While I established this blog to discuss the treatments and products available to help you stop snoring, I would be remiss if I failed to discuss a very serious possibility. Your snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea! I encourage you to get your doctor involved early to determine if you suffer from sleep apnea. Failure to diagnose and treat sleep apnea can result in serious consequences, including early death!

Sleep Apnea – What is it?

Apnea comes from the Greek, and literally means “without breath”. A person with Sleep Apnea will literally be woken up to resume breathing. This can occur hundreds of times in one night, so obviously a restful sleep is impossible. There are three types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused when the airway is blocked, typically by the soft tissues at the rear of the throat
• Central Sleep Apnea occurs when the brain fails to send a signal to the muscles to breathe
• Mixed Sleep Apnea is simply a combination of the first two

So, What Are the Risks?

If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can cause cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure. Other common affects include head aches, impotency, weight gain, and memory losses.

A recent study has linked sleep apnea to an increased risk of death. This study, supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), concluded that adults suffering from sleep apnea were two to three times more likely to die in the 13 year period than people who did not suffer from it. Left untreated, this risk rose to four times greater from any cause, and five times greater from cardiovascular problems.

So, the risks are there, and considerable!

How Do I Know If I suffer from Sleep Apnea?

If you can answer yes to any of the following conditions, sleep apnea could be the reason. I urge you to consult with your doctor and tell him which of the following apply to you:

• Are you a loud, frequent snorer?
• Has anyone noticed that you gasp for air or stop breathing while you are asleep?
• Do you often wake up tired, or with a headache?
• Do you fall asleep sitting, reading, watching TV or driving?
• Do you have problems with concentration or memory?
• Are you often fatiqued during normal waking hours?

OK, What Happens Next?

Most likely, your doctor will refer you to a specialist for a sleep study, where you will be monitored overnight to determine if sleep apnea is indeed a problem with you. If it is, there are several treatment options that the specialist and your doctor will discuss with you, and I will share in a future post here.

Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition, so don’t ignore it. However, once diagnosed, it can be treated, and this eventually will result in a much more relaxing and rejuvinating rest.

Until next time…sleep well!

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