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Do you find yourself asking
this question often? It is easy to just blame
it on today’s increasingly busy world. In
fact, the answer may be a common and treatable
medical condition. Sleep Apnea affects up to 10%
of the population and can lead to daytime tiredness,
as well as more serious health problems. People
with sleep apnea have frequent events while sleeping
during which they are unable to breathe. These
episodes can last from 10 seconds to a minute
and can occur greater than 400 times during sleep.
During these periods, the amount of oxygen in
the blood drops. This sends a danger signal to
the brain causing the person to “wake up”
for a few seconds and take a breath. The person
may not be aware of these short awakenings and
never truly sleeps for more than a few minutes
without waking up.
Who Is At Risk For
Sleep Apnea And What Are The Symptoms?
People of every age, body shape, and background
can have sleep apnea. However, it is more common
in men and post-menopausal women. By far, the
biggest risk factor for developing sleep apnea
is obesity. In addition, people with relatives
with sleep apnea may be at higher risk. Drinking
alcohol can significantly worsen sleep apnea.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include tiredness,
not feeling rested in the morning, difficulty
concentrating, falling asleep during the day,
fatigue, mood changes, and morning headaches.
The person you sleep with may complain that you
snore (almost all patients with sleep apnea snore),
or that you have long pauses in your breathing
while you sleep.
Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
Patients with sleep apnea are at risk of having
traffic accidents due to their sleepiness. In
addition, serious health problems have been associated
with sleep apnea. Approximately 40% of patients
with high blood pressure have some degree of sleep
apnea. During periods of apnea, all organs of
the body including the brain and heart have a
significant lack of oxygen. Many doctors feel
sleep apnea may be dangerous to those at risk
for heart attacks or stroke.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Many diseases can make one tired; therefore, a
doctor will need to examine you to make sure there
isn’t another cause for your symptoms. The
most common test for sleep apnea involves the
painless monitoring of your heart, brain, and
breathing overnight in a special sleep center.
There are many options for treating sleep apnea.
One treatment called CPAP uses a small mask that
pushes air into the nose and mouth keeping the
breathing passage open. Other options include
surgery and dental devises. A doctor trained in
sleep disorders will discuss these options with
you.
Christian B. Lloyd MD., F.C.C.P.
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