Sleep Apnea is a More Serious Problem Than Just Snoring

Sure, sleeping next to someone who snores all night is a big hassle and probably makes it difficult for you to sleep. You keep thinking, “If only the snoring would stop, I could fall asleep.”

Be careful what you wish for! If the snoring stops and it gets very quiet suddenly, it may not necessarily be a healthy situation for the other person.

Snoring is related to a condition known as sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, your nighttime breathing is interrupted and if doesn’t return promptly, it can become a life threatening situation. This breathing interruption can happen up to five times in an hour during sleep. If you snore loudly and nightly, you’re at higher risk for sleep apnea than the occasional snorer is.

Other signs of sleep apnea are episodes of daytime fatigue and emotional distress or skill deficits when you’re tired. Sleep apnea seems to start most often in mid-life and affects more men than women.

Risk factors for sleep apnea are:

1. Overweight by more than 120% of your appropriate body weight
2. Large neck girth. That’s determined by using a tape measure. The danger level is 17” or greater for men and 16” or greater for women.
3. Hypertension whether treated or untreated by medication
4. Narrow nasal passages

A medically supervised sleep study is needed to diagnose sleep apnea. A home monitor can be used for children as well as adults to monitor breathing interruptions. You have a number of options for treating sleep apnea.

You can be fitted for a dental appliance, an orthodontia device that you wear at night. This appliance changes the tongue placement so that the airway is clear for breathing.

Losing weight is also important to moderating sleep apnea. Along with losing weight, you need to be in an exercise program. Many people report that their sleep apnea completely disappears once they lose weight and get back to a normal, healthy range.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) masks are worn over the nose and mouth to force air into the nasal passages in a continuous flow. This may not be the most comfortable way to sleep, but it has been highly effective and most people get used to the machine and rely on it to deliver a good night’s sleep.

If all else fails, there are surgical procedures such as widening the palate, restructuring nasal cavities or taking out the tonsils to aid in a sleep apnea disorder. Make sure you don’t ignore your snoring and mistake it as something harmless because if it’s sleep apnea, you’re putting your life at risk!

Books about sleep apnea:

Related posts:

1. Tired but Can’t Sleep? 5 Tips to Falling Asleep Faster