Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Snoring
Snoring is a condition that affects 45% of normal adults and can be a signal that something is seriously wrong with one's breathing during sleep. Men are generally more likely to snore than pre-menopausal women, however, women who have gone through menopause are just as likely to snore as men. Children generally do not snore unless they have enlarged tonsils or adenoids.

CAUSES:

• Poor muscle tone in the throat and the tongue
• A long soft palate and uvula narrows the passage from the nose to the throat - They can flutter
  during relaxed breathing causing snoring
• Deformities in the nose or nasal septum - Deviated septum refers to a malformation in the
  wall that separates the nostrils

TREATMENTS:

• Exercise regularly
• Avoid alcoholic beverages within 3 hours before bedtime
• Avoid heavy meals within 3 hours before bedtime
• Sleep on the side rather than in supine position.
• The snoring may be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea

• Approximately 30 million Americans are victims of a sleep disorder called sleep apnea
• Many millions more are pre-disposed and have a high risk of developing the illness
• "Apnea" is a Greek word meaning "without breath"
• Those with apnea literally stop breathing in their sleep often hundreds of times during the night

How does it occur?

• During normal sleep, throat muscles relax
• If the throat is crowded due to obesity, the airway collapses during sleep. Airflow stops and
  the blood oxygen level drops, which causes the brain to wake up.
• If you have sleep apnea, this cycle may repeat hundreds of times during the night while you
  have no idea it is happening.

What are the common Symptoms?

• Fatigue and tiredness during the day.
• Loud snoring.
• Waking up with choking or gasping.
• Not feeling rested in the morning or satisfied with a night's sleep.
• A strong desire to take a daily afternoon nap.

Other common Features are:

• Obesity
• Small jaw, thick neck
• High blood pressure
• Restless sleep; the repeated struggle to breathe can be associated with a great deal of movement.
• Depressed mood and/or irritability
• Reduced sex drive and impotence
• Snorting, gasping, choking during sleep

How serious is it?

• Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition.
• Undiagnosed severe sleep apnea can cause irregular heartbeats, unstable high blood pressure,
  leg swelling, heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest during sleep, or a harmful accident.
• Increased daytime sleepiness poses a serious risk of automobile accidents, impaired functioning
  in the workplace and in personal relationships.
• Untreated sleep apnea tends to progressively worsen and can cause partial or complete disability and death.

How is it Diagnosed?

• An overnight sleep study, called polysomnography, is usually done to diagnose sleep apnea.
• The sleep study measures your heart rate, brain waves, chest movement, air flow and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.
• Other sleep disorders that cause unrestful sleep may be detected with a sleep study as well.

How is Sleep Apnea treated?

• The most commonly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
• The CPAP machine delivers air pressure through a small nasal mask that the patient wears while sleeping.
• The pressure acts as an "air splint" which keeps the throat open eliminating obstructive apneas.
• Sleep becomes uninterrupted and restorative, and dramatically improves daytime functioning as well as general health.
• Sleep apnea can also be treated surgically; however, the success rates may vary greatly depending on
  which procedure is chosen and the experience and skills of the surgeons.
• Some patients try dental appliances that work by bringing the lower jaw forward to increase the size of the airway