Sleep Apnea: Don’t Ignore The Snore
Millions of Americans suffer from insomnia, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea and a variety of other sleep disorders. However, one of the most deceiving of these disorders is sleep apnea, a disruption of breathing while sleeping. Some 90 percent of people of those who have sleep apnea don’t even know that they have it. These people may have many episodes of choking or gasping for air at night, but have no memory of struggling for breath when they wake. It’s often the sleep partner who first recognizes the problem of sleep apnea. If left untreated, this common disorder can be life threatening.
The word “apnea” is of Greek origin and literally means “without breath.” Obstructive apnea is the most common of three types of sleep apnea, the others being central apnea and complex apnea (a combination of obstructive and central). No matter what the root cause, all people with untreated sleep apnea of any type repeatedly stop breathing during their sleep. This can happen hundreds of times during the night, often for as long as a minute or longer. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. With central sleep apnea, the airway remains open but the brain fails to send a signal to the muscles to breathe. When an apnea event occurs, the brain briefly wakes the individual in order to resume breathing. As a result, sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.
“There are a number of warning signs and symptoms to watch for when it comes to sleep apnea,” says Kurtis Dornan, MD, from Lakewood Medical Associates, Rockport. These include frequent silences during sleep caused by breaks in breathing; choking or gasping during sleep to get air into the lungs; loud snoring; sudden awakenings to restart breathing or waking up in a cold sweat; waking up with a dry throat, or daytime sleepiness or a feeling of being un-refreshed following a night’s sleep.
“Simply put, you may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you wake up feeling un-refreshed,” Dornan says.
Because of the lack of awareness by the public and many healthcare professionals, the vast majority of sleep apneas remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated. And if left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency and headaches. It can also result in job performance impairment and motor vehicle crashes, not to mention sleepless nights for your partner. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be successfully diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research continues into new options.
“Call your physician if you or your family notice any of the symptoms of sleep apnea,” says Dornan. “Be sure to mention if you experience loud snoring, especially snoring that's punctuated by periods of silence. Treatment is necessary to avoid heart problems or other complications.” Seek immediate medical attention if you experience decreased consciousness, extreme sleepiness, hallucinations or personality changes.
Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist or recommend lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol, quitting smoking, losing weight, or avoiding sleeping on your back. If your condition is moderate or more severe, treatment options may include the use of an oral appliance designed to keep the airway open. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended to remove excess tissue from the nose or throat.
“Sleep apnea is treatable, so there’s really no downside in getting it check out with your health care provider,” says Dornan. “It will result in improved sleep for you and your sleep partner. And it just may save your life.”
To contact Kurtis Dornan, MD, of Lakewood Medical Associates, Rockport, please call 216.529.7125. The office is located at 11851 Detroit Ave, Lakewood.