SNORING AND SLEEP APNEA
In many instances, snoring is the first indicator of OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME (OSAS), a common disorder resulting in improper breathing during sleep.
IS IT SERIOUS?
Yes, OSAS is potentially life threatening.
- 50% of adults with hypertension & heart disease also suffer from OSAS.
- 77% of male and 64% of female stroke patients have OSAS.
- OSAS may be responsible for 30,000 cardiovascular deaths per year.
- OSAS patients are 7 times more likely than non-OSAS patients to be involved in car accidents.
- Many marriages become strained due to severe snoring.
- Medical experts estimate that more than 18 million Americans may have sleep apnea, yet only 5% have been diagnosed and treated.
WHAT CAUSES IT?
The airway at the back of the mouth and nose should be open for breathing during sleep. In the upper airway the tongue and the upper throat meet the soft palate and the uvula. This site is a collapsible part of the airway. When these parts touch and vibrate while you breath, the result is snoring. Complete collapse results in obstruction and, if frequent, could result in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.
IS THERE A CURE?
Yes. Most adults can benefit from general measures and/or specific treatments.
RLS
ZZZ Sleep Medicine Specialists 