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Tired of Sleepiness? Tired of Snoring?

Posted on September 11, 2014

Are you sleepy during the day? Do you snore at night? Have you woken up gasping for air? You may have a condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Apnea simply means without breath. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for as much as 10 seconds to longer than a minute.

Wallace

Dr. John Wallace, Medical Director for South Central Sleep Center

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused by the closing of the upper airway while asleep. The soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapse, then the tongue falls backwards forming a blockage, preventing air from entering the lungs. In order to breathe the person must arouse or awaken, allowing air to pass to the lungs.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is very common and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet, the majority of apnea patients remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness is a typical complaint of patients with sleep apnea. The sleepiness can occur at any time of day but most commonly occurs in the afternoon or evening. Falling asleep in front of the TV or when reading are common complaints.
  • Snoring is typically loud in most patients with sleep apnea. The snoring has several pauses during apneic episodes. Following the apnea; the snoring is loud and explosive for several breaths before another apneic episode occurs. Children can have snoring that is very loud yet have little in the way of apneic episodes whereas some elderly patients may have minimal snoring, yet have sever sleep apnea.
  • Apneic episodes may be noticed by a bed partner or other observer. If apneic episodes are observed then there is little doubt that the patient has a sleep related breathing disorder and further investigation is usually required.
  • Choking or gasping in sleep is a common complaint of patients with obstructive sleep apnea. An abrupt awakening with the sensation of being unable to breathe that results in gasping or choking may be reported by the patient, or the patient may be seen by a bed partner gasping or choking in their sleep.
  • Nocturia or the increased tendency to urinate during the night can occur. Rarely patients may be confused due to sleep deprivation and may urinate in the wrong place, such as a closet. Children with severe sleep apnea may not awaken fully during the night to urinate and bedwetting may be a nightly occurrence.
  • Tiredness upon awakening is a complaint heard from these patients. They awaken tired and unrested. It is due to an inadequate quality of sleep. The tiredness usually improves within a few hours at most but can last all day.

Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea has many side effects such as high blood pressure, motor vehicle accidents, work related accidents, impaired school and work performance, marital problems, memory and concentration difficulties, depression and impaired quality of life.Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated.

For more information, please call the South Central Sleep Center at (601) 426-2886.

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