Sleep Disorders CenterObstructive Sleep Apnea
Do you snore loudly? Are you the target of bad jokes at the hunting camp or middle of the night elbow thrusts at home? Snoring can seem funny, but it’s no laughing matter. It may be the symptom of a disorder called obstructive sleep apnea.
When you’re sleeping the muscles that hold the throat open while you’re awake relax, narrowing the upper airway. Snoring is caused by air being forced through the narrow passage. This airway can also be narrowed or obstructed due to large tonsils or tongue, a smaller than normal jaw, or excessive tissue in the back of the throat.
Your brain senses when breathing is difficult and wakes you up to fully open the throat. You then breathe normally and begin to fall back to sleep. However, the airway narrows again reawakening your brain over and over again throughout the night. The awakenings are so brief you won’t remember them, although they will affect how rested you feel the next day.
Obstructive sleep apnea increases your risk of heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure. Research shows there is also a high incidence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with type II diabetes.
People with obstructive sleep apnea often say no matter how much sleep they get they never feel rested.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects children as well as adults. Children who are overweight or have large tonsils or adenoids are at risk. Symptoms in children may include snoring or difficultly breathing during sleep, fitful sleep, daytime hyperactivity (sleepy children often become fussy and overactive), and behavior or learning problems.
Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, is a small mask worn over the nose during sleep. The mask is connected to a flow generator that allows air to be gently pumped into the throat and held open with air pressure. This allows breathing to occur normally, snoring to cease, and a good night’s rest to be had. Other treatment options include dental devices or surgery.
What are the warning signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
• Loud snoring
• A pattern of snoring interrupted by pauses in breathing, snorts or gasps before breathing resumes
• Falling asleep inappropriately, such as at work, during movies or while driving
• Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, irritability, depression, loss of interest in sex
• Headaches upon awakening
• Frequent nighttime urination or bedwetting
If you think you, or someone you know suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, help is available by seeking an evaluation at St. Vincent’s Regional Sleep Disorders Center. The evaluation would consist of a consultation with a sleep specialist, and an overnight stay in a sleep lab, where your sleep will be monitored. The sleep study will show if you have sleep apnea and help define the best treatment approach. Our Sleep Center colleagues will direct you through the process of getting starting on treatment if it is indicated. In many cases, the benefits of treatment are felt quickly after treatment begins. Some of those benefits are you won’t snore anymore and energy levels increase because of getting a proper nights rest. In addition risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure are lowered.
Consequences of Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Disturbed, disrupted sleep
• Morning headaches
• Loss of interest in sex and/or impotence
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• Stroke
• Depression
For more information, call us at (920) 431-3041.
When you’re sleeping the muscles that hold the throat open while you’re awake relax, narrowing the upper airway. Snoring is caused by air being forced through the narrow passage. This airway can also be narrowed or obstructed due to large tonsils or tongue, a smaller than normal jaw, or excessive tissue in the back of the throat.
Your brain senses when breathing is difficult and wakes you up to fully open the throat. You then breathe normally and begin to fall back to sleep. However, the airway narrows again reawakening your brain over and over again throughout the night. The awakenings are so brief you won’t remember them, although they will affect how rested you feel the next day.
Obstructive sleep apnea increases your risk of heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure. Research shows there is also a high incidence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with type II diabetes.
People with obstructive sleep apnea often say no matter how much sleep they get they never feel rested.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects children as well as adults. Children who are overweight or have large tonsils or adenoids are at risk. Symptoms in children may include snoring or difficultly breathing during sleep, fitful sleep, daytime hyperactivity (sleepy children often become fussy and overactive), and behavior or learning problems.
Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, is a small mask worn over the nose during sleep. The mask is connected to a flow generator that allows air to be gently pumped into the throat and held open with air pressure. This allows breathing to occur normally, snoring to cease, and a good night’s rest to be had. Other treatment options include dental devices or surgery.
What are the warning signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
• Loud snoring
• A pattern of snoring interrupted by pauses in breathing, snorts or gasps before breathing resumes
• Falling asleep inappropriately, such as at work, during movies or while driving
• Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, irritability, depression, loss of interest in sex
• Headaches upon awakening
• Frequent nighttime urination or bedwetting
If you think you, or someone you know suffers from obstructive sleep apnea, help is available by seeking an evaluation at St. Vincent’s Regional Sleep Disorders Center. The evaluation would consist of a consultation with a sleep specialist, and an overnight stay in a sleep lab, where your sleep will be monitored. The sleep study will show if you have sleep apnea and help define the best treatment approach. Our Sleep Center colleagues will direct you through the process of getting starting on treatment if it is indicated. In many cases, the benefits of treatment are felt quickly after treatment begins. Some of those benefits are you won’t snore anymore and energy levels increase because of getting a proper nights rest. In addition risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure are lowered.
Consequences of Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Disturbed, disrupted sleep
• Morning headaches
• Loss of interest in sex and/or impotence
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• Stroke
• Depression
For more information, call us at (920) 431-3041.
