Know the warning signs of sleep apnea
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JUNE 18-JUNE 24, 2021 31
Sleep is essential for everyone.
It’s what allows
the body and the mind
to recharge at the end of
every day. Without sufficient,
healthy sleep, the brain and
the body cannot function properly,
so it’s important to recognize
signs that you might not
be getting quality sleep.
Nearly 70% of Americans
who sleep with a bed partner
report that their partner
snores while sleeping, according
to a 2021 survey by the
American Academy of Sleep
Medicine (AASM). Many
don’t realize that a snore can
be more than just a noisy
nuisance. Snoring can be an
indicator of obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder
that can be dangerous to your
health when left untreated.
What is Obstructive Sleep
Apnea?
Nearly 30 million U.S.
adults have obstructive sleep
apnea, which repeatedly
causes breathing disruptions
during sleep. Currently, there
are about 23.5 million obstructive
sleep apnea cases that are
undiagnosed.
With OSA, the airway repeatedly
becomes entirely or
partially blocked, limiting the
amount of air that reaches the
lungs. When this happens, patients
may snore or make choking
noises. The brain and body
experience severe decreases
in oxygen flow, causing multiple
arousals from sleep during
the night. In more severe
cases, these arousals can occur
several hundred times
a night. Individuals may be
completely unaware of experiencing
these episodes while
sleeping.
“While not everyone who
snores has sleep apnea, snoring
is a warning sign that
should be taken seriously,”
said AASM President Dr. Kannan
Ramar. “If your bed partner
snores, or if you’ve been
told that you snore, then it is
important to talk to a medical
provider about screening or
testing for sleep apnea. Treatment
for obstructive sleep
apnea can improve overall
health and quality of life.”
Snoring is just one of the
symptoms
In the same survey, a quarter
of Americans admitted
they were not familiar with
OSA; nearly half acknowledged
they do not know the
symptoms of the disease.
The following are five
warning signs to be aware of:
Snoring: Snoring between
apneas is typically noticed by
a bed partner.
Choking or gasping during
sleep: When snoring is
paired with choking, gasping
or silent breathing pauses
during sleep, it’s a reliable indicator
of sleep apnea.
Fatigue or daytime
sleepiness: Excessive daytime
sleepiness often occurs
because sleep apnea causes
numerous arousals throughout
the night, preventing your
body from getting the highquality
sleep it needs.
Obesity: An adult with a
body mass index (BMI) of 30
or higher is considered to be
obese and the risk of sleep apnea
increases with the amount
of excess body weight.
High blood pressure:
Between 30 and 40 percent of
adults with high blood pressure
also have sleep apnea.
Other common symptoms
of OSA include: Unrefreshing
sleep; insomnia;
morning headaches; nocturia
(waking during the night to
go to the bathroom); difficulty
concentrating; memory loss;
decreased sexual desire; irritability;
and difficulty staying
awake, particularly when
watching TV or driving
“Delaying treatment for
sleep apnea can lead to more
serious health problems,”
added Ramar. “Fortunately,
many of the damaging effects
of sleep apnea can be stopped,
and even reversed, through
diagnosis and treatment by
the sleep team at an accredited
sleep center, where patients
receive care in safe and comfortable
accommodations.”
Treating sleep apnea improves
quality of life
Sleep apnea is typically
treated using continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP)
therapy. This therapy keeps
the airway open during the
night by providing a gentle
air stream through a mask
worn while sleeping. Using
CPAP can improve your overall
quality of life by enhancing
sleep quality and boosting
daytime alertness, concentration
and mood. It can also decrease
medical expenses and
improve both your brain and
your heart health. Alternative
treatments include positional
therapy, oral appliance therapy
and surgery.
For more information or
to find an accredited sleep
center, visit sleepeducation.
org. To access the AASM
2021 Sleep Prioritization Survey,
visit aasm.org/about/
newsroom/.
— Courtesy of BPT
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
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