Don’t Ignore the Snoring

Obstructive Sleep Apnea has recently been designated as the most under diagnosed medical condition in modern times.

According to a poll in USA Today, 45 percent of spouses reported that their bed partner snores loudly, yet only five percent of their counterparts even admit that they snore. Unfortunately, snoring is much more than an embarrassing nuisance. It may be a sign that you suffer from a serious health condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA).

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep. The “apnea” in sleep apnea refers to a breathing pause that lasts at least ten seconds. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, despite efforts to breathe.

There are Long-Term Health Risks

More and more studies suggest that OSA could ultimately kill sufferers by gradually damaging their health. This dangerous sleep disorder has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression and dementia, all of which can affect longevity of life. Furthermore, a recent study suggests that sleep apnea patients are at a five times greater risk of developing cancer than those who do not suffer from the disorder.

Symptoms of sleep apnea and what to look for:

Often the person with sleep apnea is unaware of the problem and will often deny the fact that he/she snores. However, the bed partner will observe:

-Loud snoring followed by stoppage of breathing

-Gasping and choking during sleep

Other symptoms may include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness

•Drowsy driving

• Awakening feeling not rested in the morning

• A sour taste in the mouth in the morning

• Morning headaches

• Weight gain

• Limited attention

• Memory loss

• Poor judgment

• Personality changes

Solutions

If you are experiencing common symptoms associated with OPA, a sleep physician or your family physician can help. Generally, you will be asked to do an overnight sleep study at a sleep lab; however, more physicians are now using an at-home sleep study that allows you to be tested in your own bed. This home study test has been proven to be just as reliable in detecting this dangerous condition.

If you are positively diagnosed for OPA, you may have a choice for treatment. Some of the more severe patients receive CPAP treatments, which involve a mask that fits over the nose and/or mouth, connected by hose to a pump that gently blows air into the mouth to help keep the airway open during sleep. For those patients who are diagnosed with mild to moderate OPA or those who are CPAP intolerant can now be treated with an oral appliance provided by a dentist trained in sleep apnea.

Lifestyle changes are effective ways of mitigating symptoms of sleep apnea. Here are some tips that may help reduce apnea severity:

• Lose weight. If you are overweight, this is the most important action you can take to cure your sleep apnea (CPAP only treats it; weight loss can cure it in the overweight person).

• Avoid alcohol. It causes frequent nighttime awakenings, and makes the upper airway breathing muscles relax.

• Quit smoking. Cigarette smoking worsens swelling in the upper airway, making apnea (and snoring) worse.

• Some patients with mild sleep apnea or heavy snoring have fewer breathing problems when they are lying on their sides instead of their backs.

Now is the time to help your significant other or loved one/s improve their health, get a quality rest at night and live a longer life. It is time for you to get back in the bedroom and get some sleep. (Adapted by Caryll Arcayan)

Source: womenslifestyle.com, Sleepfoundation.org

Photo above: Unfortunately, snoring is much more than an embarrassing nuisance. It may be a sign that you suffer from a serious health condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). If you’ve heard that you’re snoring, check out with your medical professional to help you cope up with some remedies or treatments, or cure of it. (Image credit: womenlifetsyle.com)