Video: Snoring Center - Sleep Apnea
In this short video clip, Dr. Craig Schwimmer defines obstructive sleep apnea , tells us the health consequences of having sleep apnea, and tells us who is at risk.
Schwimmer describes the event cycle of a person who is sleeping that has obstructive sleep apenea: Soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses the airway, and prevens the sleeper from breathing. The brain notices that there is less oxygen in the blood stream, and the person wakes up. This can happen several hundred times a night.
In the long term, these nightly cycles cause significant strain on heart an lungs. People with sleep apnea are at greater risk for having high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, and several other cardio vascular diseases.
Studies have shown that up to 5% of the population may have sleep apnea. Signs of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- Loud, habitual snoring
- Gasping for air while sleeping
- Poor quality sleep - usually wake up not feelign well rested
- Trouble concentrating during the day
- Having headaches in the morning
People who are most at risk for having sleep apnea are:
- Men
- between 40 and 60 years old
- and are overweight
Traditionally, sleep studies have been done in facilities to determine if someone has sleep apnea. Now, sleep studies may be done at one’s home.
You can find out more information from The Snoring Center.
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