While snoring is common, and perhaps more so among those individuals with allergies (which might be everyone living in the Ohio River Valley), it isn’t always funny or just annoying. Snoring can be a warning sign of a serious condition: sleep apnea.
There are three types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea. Kathryn Strait, doctor of nursing practice at Norton Healthcare Pulmonary Specialists, says this form of sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in your airway relax too much and block the flow of oxygen. While sleep apnea can affect anyone, including children, it becomes more common among older adults. “The prevalence of sleep apnea often increases with age due to reduced muscle tone, decreased respiratory function, and increased body weight,” Dr. Strait says.
Since many people snore, how does a person know whether their snoring is something they should have checked out? Dr. Strait advises that if after seven or more hours of sleep at night you find yourself nodding off frequently during the day, having headaches upon waking, or having difficulty concentrating, it would be smart to tell your health care provider about your symptoms.
Another symptom of sleep apnea is waking up during the night with a sense of choking or gasping. Sometimes this may be obvious to the sleeper but not always, so this symptom will often be reported by their bedmate.
Getting help: Sleep studies
There can also be anxiety around the idea of a sleep study in a medical setting. While this is understandable, the repercussions of untreated sleep apnea can be even more panic-producing since it increases a person’s risk of heart attack and heart failure, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.
For some situations, Dr. Strait says that “sleep studies can be performed at home. Some of these home tests are as easy as wearing a watch or a ring for one night.”
CPAPs have improved
Another concern may be how a person will adjust to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which sends a constant flow of pressure to keep your airway from collapsing while you breathe, Dr. Strait explains. Technological advances have made them much smaller and quieter.
There are also options for face masks. Dr. Strait recommends sleep apnea patients have a formal mask-fitting appointment with a respiratory therapist to find the mask that works best for them.
There may be some individuals who cannot sleep with a CPAP machine and mask. “If you have an intolerance to CPAP treatment, you can work with your sleep medicine practitioner to determine if you are a good candidate for other options, such as oral appliances, surgical intervention, or positional therapy,” Dr. Strait says.
When it comes to oral devices, however, it is important to work with a sleep practitioner rather than just purchasing something online. Dr. Strait says the devices that can be purchased cheaply online are just for treating snoring and do not address sleep apnea. “Oral mandibular advancement devices work to treat sleep apnea by pulling the lower jaw forward,” she says. “If patients want to seek out this option, we generally refer them to sleep medicine dentistry to minimize the risk of bite changes.”
By Carrie Vittitoe
P.S. You may also be interested in this article about transitioning from full to part-time work.
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