It is a common complaint for couples. “Your snoring is keeping me awake!”
Many couples don’t realize that snoring could indicate a more serious medical condition such as OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). OSA affects approximately 12 million to 18 millions Americans, and it is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of them are not diagnosed.
OSA can be described as a sleep disorder. OSA occurs when a person’s breathing stops for short periods of times, and their airway collapses. OSA is characterized by loud snoring, interrupted by silence and followed by breaths.
Dr. Joanne Getsy, Drexel Sleep Center of Manayunk, Drexel University College of Medical. “The breathing pauses that someone with OSA experiences may result in reductions in blood oxygen saturation and fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, which raises the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and death.”
Obesity, large necks, abnormalities in the skull, nose, and oral cavity are all risk factors for OSA. OSA may manifest itself as snoring, pauses during sleep, and excessive sleepiness (ES). ES is an overactive ability to wake up and maintain alertness and wakefulness to perform daily activities.
To determine whether a patient may be at risk of OSA, there are many questions that a physician could use. The STOP questionnaire, a four-question screening tool that helps identify risk factors for OSA, is simple to use and easy to use. The STOP questionnaire asks patients to answer four questions about their symptoms. A patient’s answers may lead to their physician ordering an overnight study at the local sleep center. This will allow the patient to be monitored and analysed for any abnormalities in their breathing.
Continuous positive airwaypressure (CPAP) is a common treatment for OSA. This uses a mask-like device that works with a pump and a pump that work together to keep your airway open. Even though the CPAP device may be used, some patients still have symptoms like excessive sleepiness and residual sleepiness. One study found that even after three months of CPAP treatment 65 percent of patients experienced objective ES. An Epworth Sleepiness Scale (also known as the ESS) is a questionnaire that a doctor can use to assess a patient’s sleepiness. Restricted ES sufferers can get help. For more information about OSA treatment and ES related to OSA, they should consult their doctors.
Talk to your doctor if you or someone you care about has snoring or falls asleep during the day.
OSAaware.com provides more information.
