Don’t Ignore the Snore
A person who snores tends to be the brunt of jokes in cartoons, sitcoms, and often around the family dinner table. While the symphony of sound which emanates from a snorer may, indeed, be chuckle-worthy, the presence of chronic snoring is no laughing matter—especially if the one doing the snoring is significantly overweight.
Snoring, snorting, and the abrupt stops and starts of the natural breathing sequence may be a sign of a very deadly condition known as sleep apnea. The person who suffers from sleep apnea is basically depriving their brain and body of adequate oxygen frequently throughout the night. This oxygen deprivation leads to a condition known as oxidative stress, which, in and of itself, can be the cause of cardiovascular disease, dementia, insulin resistance, and sudden death.
Common characteristics of a person with sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Overweight
- Neck circumference > 16 inches for women, > 17 inches for men
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Regularly wakes with headaches, dry mouth, or a sore throat
- Trouble staying asleep at night, wakes up gasping for air
- Observed pauses in breath cycles while sleeping
If you or a loved one seem to fit the mold of someone with sleep apnea, there are two things you must do today. First, contact a sleep center and schedule to have a sleep study performed (or get a referral from your primary care physician). Second, get serious about losing some weight. A reduction of just 10% of your body mass can often times significantly reduce the number of sleep apnea episodes per night. This, in turn, will markedly reduce your risk of secondary disease.
Special note: An “at home” sleep study does not tell the whole story when it comes to diagnosing sleep apnea. The exam must be able to assess the sleeping position in which your breathing is becoming diminished / halted as well as whether or not your diaphragm is contracting at the time of the apneic event. Don’t be concerned you won’t be able to sleep in a sleep center setting. Just an hour or two of sleep is enough time to give the examiner all the information they need to properly diagnose and intervene for your particular form of apnea.
