SLEEP APNEA

Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly starts and stops. Typical symptoms might be when you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep. To obtain an accurate diagnosis, your physician will usually order an overnight sleep study or a polysomnogram.

A sleep study is basically tests that watch what happen while you are asleep. These studies look for certain sleep problems such as:

o    When you stop breathing during sleep for 10 seconds or longer.

o    Problems staying awake.

o    Possibility of sleep walking or night terrors.

o    Problems sleeping.

o    Similar problems that would interfere with a good night sleep.

The testing that takes place records several body functions during your sleep, such as breathing rate, brain activity, oxygen levels, eye movement, and heart rate to name a few tests. After this testing has been reviewed by your physician, the best course of action for you can be determined.   

Approximately 1 in every 5 adults has sleep-disordered breathing problems. Sleep Apnea can occur when: a) your airway becomes narrow limiting your airflow as you breathe, b) collapse so you stop breathing, or c) vibrate causing snoring. Each apnea, or pause in breathing, can last a few seconds or longer and may occur several times during the night. The results are you usually daytime sleepiness, poor memory, poor concentration and even depression.

Sleep Apnea can affect anyone, at any age. Typical factors include:   

o    Nasal obstruction due to deviated septum, sinus problems or allergies.

o    Male gender

o    Having a family history of sleep apnea

o    Being overweight

o    Being over age 40

o    Having a large neck, tonsils, tongue or small jaw