Volume 5, Issue 2
Sleep Apnea: When Breathing Stops
Do you often find yourself feeling tired during the day or falling asleep when reading or watching TV? Have you been told you snore loudly? You could simply be overtired from not getting enough sleep or you may have sleep apnea, a disorder afflicting 18 million Americans, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA, 2012).
The Greek word "apnea" means "without breath." Sleep apnea is an involuntary halt in breathing that occurs while a person is asleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. In most cases, the individual is unaware of these lapses in breathing.
Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, weight gain, headaches, and other ailments.
Sleep apnea is more prevalent in men than women, particularly in males over the age of 50. Common symptoms often include extremely loud snoring and awakening out of breath during the night. A sleep study, either in a sleep laboratory or at home, is currently the best way to obtain a definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea.
With each interruption in breathing event, the brain partially rouses the sleeper to resume breathing. As a result, the sleep is fragmented and of poor quality. This accounts for the common symptoms of frequent fatigue and grogginess upon awakening, as well as concentration and memory difficulties.
Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into more effective treatment continues. To learn more about this disorder, visit www.sleepapnea.org.