YOUR SNORING MAY BE MORE
THAN A LOT OF NOISE
You Could Have a Dangerous Sleep Disorder
For many, sound sleep is hard to come by. An estimated 12 million Americans
suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a common medical disorder characterized
by blockage of the airway during sleep. People with sleep apnea snore and
repeatedly experience brief interruptions of breathing (apnea) during slumber.
If left untreated, the condition can cause high blood pressure, contribute
to memory problems and daytime sleepiness and raise the risk of heart attack
and stroke.
Luckily, effective therapies are available, from simple lifestyle changes
to the use of medical devices and surgery. The experts at Johns Hopkins
urge those who notoriously snore to consider tests that determine whether
their loud habit is harmless or the sign of a serious problem. The three
common methods for treating sleep apnea are the following:
* Use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device: A CPAP
device, worn at night, delivers air through a specially designed nasal
mask during sleep and is a highly effective therapy.
* Weight loss: Excessive weight is a major risk factor for sleep apnea,
and a modest 10 percent weight loss can often eliminate apnea in overweight
or obese individuals. Quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol and sedatives
at bedtime may also ease sleep apnea.
* Surgery: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure that removes
excess tissue at the back of the throat—a common trigger for sleep apnea.
If a patient has enlarged tonsils, a tonsillectomy may be combined with
UPPP to widen the opening in the throat and ease breathing. Surgical correction
of a deviated nasal septum or nasal polyps may also help improve breathing.
In 2004, the FDA approved a new device called the “Pillar Palatal Implant
System,” which consists of three tiny plastic rods that are surgically
implanted into the soft palate. This causes the tissue of the soft palate
to stiffen, thereby reducing the vibration responsible for snoring. The
procedure is relatively new, experience with it is still quite limited,
and it may not be available in your area.
Knowing the exact cause of your snoring and the least-invasive ways
to treat it is crucial to your overall health. So if you know (or have
been informed by a sleepless bed partner!) that you’re a heavy snorer,
tell your doctor. An overnight sleep study can quickly ascertain your condition,
and then you can take action. You’ll sleep better, too!
Excerpted from the 2006 Johns Hopkins White Paper: Lung Disorders,
copyright Medletter Associates, LLC
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