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Sleep Breathing Disorders
Snoring
Snoring is a common sleep disorder
that can affect all people at any age, although
it occurs more frequently in men and people who
are overweight. Snoring has a tendency to worsen
with age. Forty-five percent of adults snore occasionally,
while 25% are considered habitual snorers.
Occasional snoring is usually not very serious and
is mostly a nuisance for the bed partner of the
person who snores. However, the habitual snorer
not only disrupts the sleep patterns of those close
to them, but also their own. Habitual snorers
snore whenever they sleep and are often tired after
a night of what seems like quality rest. Medical
assistance is usually needed for habitual snorers
to get a good night's sleep. |
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What Causes Snoring?
The physical obstruction of
the flow of air through the mouth and nose is the
cause of snoring. The walls of the throat vibrate
during breathing, resulting in the distinctive sounds
of snoring.
Air flow can be obstructed by a combination of factors,
including:
Obstructed nasal airways: Partially
blocked nasal passages require extra effort to transfer
air through them while sleeping. This can pull together
or collapse the non-rigid soft and dangling tissue
of the throat, resulting in snoring. Some people
snore only during allergy seasons or when they have
a sinus infection. Deformities of the nose such
as a deviated septum (a "crooked" wall
that separates one nostril from the other) or nasal
polyps can also cause obstruction and sleep problems.
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Poor muscle tone in
the throat and tongue:
Throat and tongue muscles can be too relaxed,
which allows them to collapse and fall back into
the airway. This can result from deep sleep, alcohol,
and some sleeping pills. Normal aging causes further
relaxation of these muscles and increases the potential
for snoring.
Bulky throat tissue: Being overweight
can cause bulky throat tissue. Also, children with
large tonsils and adenoids often snore.
Long soft palate and/or uvula:
One of the most common causes of snoring, a long
soft palate or uvula (the dangling tissue in back
of the mouth) can block the opening at the back
of the throat. When these structures vibrate and
bump against one another during sleep, the airway
becomes obstructed and causes snoring.
What Are the Health Risks of Snoring?
Habitual snorers can be at risk
for serious health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea
is an illness that is often associated with chronic
snoring. This condition creates several problems,
including:
• Long interruptions of breathing (more than
10 seconds) during sleep caused by partial or total
obstruction or blockage of the airway. Serious cases
can have total blockage episodes hundreds of times
per night.
• Frequent waking from sleep, even though
he or she may not realize it.
• Snorers with obstructive sleep apnea sleep
lightly in order to keep their throat muscles tense
enough to maintain airflow.
• Blood oxygen levels are often lowered, which
causes the heart to pump harder and blood pressure
to rise. The result is a poor night's sleep, which
leads to drowsiness during the day and can interfere
with the person's quality of life. Prolonged suffering
from obstructed sleep apnea will result in higher
blood pressure and may cause enlargement of the
heart, with higher risks of heart attack and stroke.
• The stress of not getting enough oxygen
causes the body to produce adrenalin, a chemical
that helps our bodies fight and cope with stressful
situations. Adrenalin also causes blood sugar to
rise, which may eventually lead to diabetes.
Snoring
Treatments & Solutions --> |
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Tired during the day?
Do you struggle to stay awake
during work and other activities and you don’t
know why? Could sleep apnea or another medical condition
be the main culprit?
Sometimes the cause of sleepiness isn’t easy
to figure out. Here is information that can point
you in the right direction and help you find the
treatment that works best for you. |
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What Is Excessive
Sleepiness?
Sleepiness is likely a problem for you if:
• You have trouble waking up in the morning
• You often feel sleepy during your waking
hours
• Naps don’t take the edge off your
sleepiness
Along with having to drag yourself through the day,
you may also have:
• Loss of appetite
• Trouble with thinking or memory
• Feelings of irritability or anxiety
About 20% of adults have sleepiness severe enough
to affect their regular activities.
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Conditions That Can
Cause Sleepiness
Not getting enough sleep -- sometimes by choice
-- is the most common cause of excessive sleepiness.
Working at night and sleeping during the day is
another. Other causes include drug, alcohol, or
cigarette use, lack of physical activity, obesity,
and the use of certain medications.
But nodding off when you want or need to be awake
may also be caused by an underlying condition. Depression
or a sleep disorder such as restless legs syndrome,
sleep apnea or narcolepsy are common causes
of problem sleepiness.
Simply complete the following Questionnaire (ESS)
and we will email you the results.
Sleep
Quality Questionnaire Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)
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Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep
disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is
interrupted during sleep. People with untreated
sleep apnoea stop breathing repeatedly during their
sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. This means the
brain -- and the rest of the body -- may not get
enough oxygen.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA):
The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is
caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when
the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses
during sleep.
Central sleep apnoea: Unlike OSA,
the airway is not necessary blocked but the brain fails to
signal to the muscles to breathe due to instability
in the respiratory control center. |
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Am I at Risk for Sleep
Apnoea?
Sleep apnoea can affect anyone at any age, even children.
Risk factors for sleep apnea include:
• Male gender
• Being overweight
• Being over the age of forty
• Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater
in men and 16 inches or greater in women)
• Having large tonsils, a large tongue, or
a small jaw bone
• Having a family history of sleep apnea
• Gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD
• Nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum,
allergies, or sinus problems
What Are the Effects of Sleep Apnoea?
If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing
number of health problems including:
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and
heart attacks
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Worsening of ADHD
In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible
for poor performance in everyday activities, such
as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, as
well as academic underachievement in children and
adolescents.
Berlin
Questionnaire (for sleep apnea) -->
CPAP Therapy --> |
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