Spring 2008

Snoring and Sleep Disruption

Eighty-seven million Americans snore, so you are not alone, but you could be in danger. Forty million Americans are chronic suffers of sleep disorders, but only 10%  have been treated or diagnosed, so there are some walking strokes and heart attacks among you and your friends  that snore.

Snoring occurs when the airway or the passage through which you breathe become partially blocked. This can happen when your tongue falls back as you drift off into a deeper sleep. As the diameter of the airway passage shrinks, throat vibration begins, and snoring ensues.

In many scenarios, this compromise is minor and your body continues to get adequate amounts of oxygen, causing little or no harm, although discord and lack of sleep for your bed partner is something different altogether. However, this is a red flag as it could be one of the early signs or a component of "obstructive sleep apnea" (OSA). In fact, 40% of snorers have been shown to have OSA. Most all sleep apnea suffers snore in between bouts of apnea, or oxygen interruption.

In one well-known study, patients with untreated sleep apnea had a 37% chance of dying within eight years versus 4% for patients who had received treatment for their sleep apnea. That's scary enough to pay attention to that bed partner who is sawing some serious logs.

OSA sufferers have a rough night and don't even know what's happening to them. In a given night, these apnea events (when a person stops breathing) can occur more than 30 times per hour! Obviously, these people awake exhausted each morning. Sleep should be a replenishing tool for each of us.

Should you be worried? Well, in addition to chronic sleepiness, OSA sufferers can have increased risk of heart attack, stroke, impotence, heartburn, morning headaches, impaired concentration, decreased libido, depression and decreased quality of life.

So, what's the cure? Unfortunately, there is not yet a cure for sleep apnea, but it is treatable. The type of treatment depends on the severity of the disorder as assessed by a sleep specialist. The goal of treatment is to keep the airway open during sleep leading to improved sleep, better oxygenation and enhanced daytime alertness.  Patients should undergo a sleep study to determine the extent of any sleep apnea. Depending on the findings, the recommendations will vary. A CPAP machine is often recommended in moderate and severe cases, while an oral appliance is usually suggested if the OSA is slight, or if the snoring is not part of OSA at all. There are also surgical options, and patients are encouraged to seek advice from their physicians for these.

So, is it simple and annoying snoring or is it serious? Either way, please do not ignore this. It can be a very serious health concern, and one that has proven to shorten the life of the sufferer.