Sleep Snoring, Sleep Apnea, Brief Explanation About Snoring, Obstructed Breathing, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorder

Sleep apnea: not just snoring

by Lindsay O'Quin

Copy Editor

October 20, 2003

Jerry Halberstadt suspected something was wrong when others noticed his frequent sleepiness and loud snoring. He just didn't know what, exactly.

Halberstadt is one of the estimated 12 million Americans who have sleep apnea, a breathing disorder characterized brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.

In 1993 he teamed up with Dr. Scott Johnson to co-author "Sleep Apnea: The Phantom of the Night," a self-help book for sleep apnea patients or for people who suspect they may have the disorder.

Dr. William Broughton is director of USA Knollwood Sleep Disorders Center. He is also professor of medicine at USA and is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases and sleep medicine.

Broughton, along with Halberstadt, recently added his contributions to the book's third edition.

"It needed to be revised. Our reasoning was there needed to be a resource for people not only to find out what's wrong with them, but where they can go to get treatment," Broughton said.

The book's revision took nearly three years to complete, Broughton said. It includes a description of the physiology of sleep, snoring and sleep-disordered breathing; and an explanation of sleep evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. It also chronicles Halberstadt's ongoing struggle and success with sleep apnea.

"The book is intended for the lay public, but it's not at the Walt Disney level," Broughton said. "We make it accessible, but not childlike. They can go as deep as they want into it. The chapters stand alone. They don't have to read the whole book to benefit from it."

Broughton said the most common symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, sleepiness during the day, heartburn and frequent urination at night.

Keith Jackson, computer support technician for USA Knollwood Hospital, was experiencing the same phenomena as Halberstadt when he realized he may have sleep apnea.

"People would tell me I snore really loud, and then I would stop breathing. I would wake up the next morning and feel like I hadn't even been to bed yet," Jackson said.

Apnea typically occurs when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes the airway, causing the victim to stop breathing as frequently as 100 times during sleep, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association.

Although many patients are overweight males over 40, sleep apnea affects people of all ages. However, the vast majority of patients remain undiagnosed and untreated. Smoking and alcohol use increase the risk of sleep apnea.

People who suspect they may have the disease should see their doctor immediately and may need to be evaluated at a sleep lab.

Treatment for sleep apnea includes avoidance of alcohol and medications that relax the airway, weight loss, positional therapy in adults, oral appliances, or tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children. The most effective treatment option is nasal continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP.

Jackson received treatment from Dr. Broughton at USA Knollwood Sleep Disorders Center.

"They gave me the sleep test, and I went to sleep with a lot of wires. Within 20 minutes they knew I was definitely a candidate for the CPAP machine," Jackson said.

The CPAP machine is a mask placed over the patient's nose to open the back of the throat. It forces air through the airway at a high enough pressure to keep the airway open during sleep, according through the American Sleep Apnea Association.

"I could tell the difference in just a few days. It made all the difference in the world," Jackson said.

Broughton said the CPAP machine has an 80-85 percent success rate in sleep apnea patients.

If apnea is left untreated, it could result in life-threatening complications, including high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

Jackson said, "People joke about snoring, but it's no joke when it's a health problem."

More info about sleep snoring, please visit USA Vanguard.

Snoring

If you snore, you may have been told that you snore by a partner, roommate, or other person who sleeps nearby. Snoring is very common and is usually not an indication of an underlying disorder.

Sometimes, however, snoring can be a sign of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea . This means you have periods when you are not breathing for more than 10 seconds while you sleep. These periods of "apnea" are indicated by a long period of silence just after you have been snoring. They are followed by a sudden snort or gasp when breathing resumes. Then, snoring starts all over again. If you have sleep apnea, this cycle generally happens several times a night.

The major risk from this condition is stroke due to the multiple episodes when your brain is not getting enough oxygen. If sleep apnea is suspected, your doctor (or a sleep specialist) can test you for it by doing a sleep study either at home or in a hospital setting.

In most people, the cause is not known. But, in some people snoring is caused by:

Too much alcohol or sedation (like sleeping pills or antihistamines) at bedtime

Nasal congestion from colds or allergies, especially if the congestion lasts a long time

Enlarged adenoids and tonsils that block the airway

Sleep apnea

Being overweight, which leads to excessive neck tissue that puts pressure on the airway

Last month of pregnancy

The following practices can reduce snoring:

Lose weight if you are overweight.

Cut down or eliminate alcohol and other sedatives at bedtime.

Avoid sleeping flat on your back. Sleep on your side if possible. Some doctors even suggest sewing a golf or tennis ball into the back of your night clothes. Then, if you roll over onto your back, you are reminded to stay on your side because of the discomfort. Eventually, sleeping on your side is a habit and you don't need to be reminded.

Sleep Apnea Surgery

For mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea, treatment often consists of using methods to avoid sleeping on one's back. For people with significant nasal congestion, a decongestant therapy may be prescribed. Patients with obstructive and central apnea should avoid central nervous system depressants such as alcoholic beverages, sedatives and narcotics. Weight loss and diet control are encouraged for overweight patients.

Many serious cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be relieved by a treatment called nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nasal CPAP). Nasal CPAP uses a mask-like device and pump that work together to keep the airway open with air pressure during each inspiration. For those patients who cannot tolerate the nasal CPAP, surgical options include UvuloPalatalPharyngoPlasty (UPPP surgery- the shortening of the excess palate and elimination of any tonsillar tissue from the throat). If this does not "cure" the problem, then procedures to move the tongue forward such as genioglossis advancement or maxillomandibular osteotomy can be done. Some doctors also believe that radiofrequency ablation of the tongue base can help. So far laser surgery of the palate has not been shown to help significant sleep apnea.

More info about sleep snoring, please visit Coastal ENT.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Sleep Well, Feel Better, 3rd Edition

Ralph A. Pascualy, M.D.

Sally Warren Soest, M.S.

"Sally Warren Soest is the wife of a sleep apnea patient, and Dr. Ralph Pascualy is the physician who treated him. Together they have written a highly readable and practical book useful for anyone dealing with sleep apnea. Case studies, line drawings, and photographs help highlight and explain salient points. They discuss the symptoms and causes of sleep apnea as well as the other health problems that can result if it isn't treated. The section on diagnosis includes detailed information on what to expect from a visit to a sleep clinic. The treatment section focuses on CPAP, the most widely used and effective treatment. Sections on sleep apnea in seniors, children, and discussion of the relationship between apnea and SIDS. Includes excellent references, a glossary, and resources for further information. If you only buy one book on sleep apnea, this is the one!" -- Library Journal

"The authors of this excellent book provide information about sleep apnea primarily to patients and their families. The uniqueness of the book resides in a blend of the viewpoint of a physician (sleep medicine specialist) and the viewpoint of a patient's spouse. The reader is provided with state-of-the-art information in the field of sleep apnea in a more palatable form." -- Doody Publishing

"...continues to be an invaluable resource for anyone afflicted with the health risks and inconvenience of sleep disorders...Written so as to be totally accessible for the nonspecialist general reader...a must have for anyone who suffers, and their friends and family who want to help them cope with and overcome this health-hazardous condition."
--The Bookwatch

"...cover(s) the latest sleep clinic findings on the topic. Answers to key questions are written with the lay reader in mind and are easy to understand." --The Bookwatch

Does your loved one:

Snore loudly?

Disturb your sleep?

Complain of feeling tired?

Fall asleep at the wheel?

Sleep apnea may be responsible. This guide may be lifesaving! Find out:

When snoring is a sign of sleep apnea

Why snoring and sleep apnea are dangerous to your health

Who should see a sleep specialist

Where to find an accredited sleep disorders center

How to feel better fast: the latest treatments

How to enjoy a full, healthy life - don't let sleep apnea slow you down.

Snoring is the most common sign of sleep apnea, a potentially fatal sleep disorder that affects approximately 20 million Americans. It is associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, and premature death, and is a common cause of driving accidents, yet frequently goes undiagnosed.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea is for people who have - or suspect that they have - sleep apnea. It is also written for their bed partners, families, friends, and for health care professionals involved in its management. The book provides answers to key questions, written in easy to understand terms, as well as the pro's and con's of specific treatments.

Contents:

Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea Harms Health and Home Life

Normal Sleep, Snoring, and the Development of Sleep Apnea

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Problems and Pitfalls of Identifying Sleep Apnea

The Sleep Center: Testing for Sleep Apnea

Treating Sleep Apnea

Obesity and Sleep Apnea

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Sleep Apnea in Infants

Sleep Apnea in Older Children and Adolescents

Sleep Apnea and the Senior Citizen

Finding a Sleep Specialist

Choosing a CPAP and a Homecare Company

Follow-Up Care: Living with Sleep Apnea

Solving CPAP Problems

Alternative Medicine and Sleep Apnea

More info about sleep snoring, please visit Demos Medical Publishing.