Greetings!
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sleep apnea affects more than twelve million Americans. People with sleep apnea usually snore loudly; although not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
The risk factors for the disorder include being overweight, male, and more than 40 years of age; but the disorder can affect anyone (even small children whose breathing may be obstructed by enlarged tonsils). Unfortunately, most sufferers are unaware that they have the disorder, so it often remains undiagnosed.
But ignorance is not bliss. Untreated sleep apnea can cause a host of serious medical problems including chronic tiredness, headaches, memory lapses, irritability, weight gain, depression, and increased joint and muscle pain. It also places sufferers at a higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Finally, excessive sleepiness has public safety consequences: According to the results of a poll conducted by The National Sleep Foundation, nearly 2 million drivers had a car crash or a near miss due to drowsiness in 2009 alone.
So, what is sleep apnea? It's a condition characterized by pauses in breathing while you sleep. Usually, it occurs when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses, and the airway is blocked. Throughout the night, as an individual struggles to breathe, they repeatedly leave deep sleep and partially awaken as they gasp for air. When morning comes, however, they are unaware of their sleep disturbance. Click here and scroll down the linked page to watch a 90-second, animated video describing the process (created by NIH).
Although there is no cure for sleep apnea, there is effective treatment. A first step that you can take to see if you might have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder is to answer the Eight Questions of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. If your score is equal to or higher than 10, please tell your doctor. Depending upon your symptoms, your physician may determine that you are a candidate for a sleep study.
I've also attached link to our own Sleep Disorder Handout. It contains some sleep hygiene guidelines and recommendations for nutritional supplements and herbs that may help you get a better night's sleep.
As always, you have our best wishes for your optimal health, |
