Medical Opinion
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False Sleep apnea can cause loud snoring , but just because you snore doesn ' t mean you have sleep apnea . Some 45 % of men and 30 % of women snore regularly . Most cases are harmless . But anyone who snores nightly and has other symptoms –– like pauses in breathing at night or daytime sleepiness –– should talk to a doctor to rule out sleep apnea .
All It ' s important to treat sleep apnea , and not just because of daytime sleepiness . When oxygen levels in the blood drop , your body responds by releasing stress hormones and partially waking you up –– as many as 400 times a night . Over time , exposure to those hormones increases the risk of high blood pressure , heart attack , and stroke . The chronic exhaustion caused by sleep apnea increases the risk of depression . Daytime sleepiness is also a leading cause of car accidents .
Playing the didgeridoo One study found that practicing the Australian wind instrument called the didgeridoo –– for about 25 minutes a day six days a week –– improved sleep apnea symptoms like daytime sleepiness . Researchers speculated that playing the instrument strengthened the muscles around the airways , preventing them from collapsing during sleep .
Both Obesity is clearly linked with the risk of obstructive sleep apnea . As fat builds up in the throat , it narrows the airways , making airway obstruction more likely . But it seems that sleep apnea itself –– and the fragmented sleep it causes –– triggers hormonal changes that make you hungrier and increase the risk of weight gain .
Blows air to keep the airways open during sleep CPAP uses a constant gentle stream of air through the nose to stop the airways from collapsing while you breathe . A small device with a fan pushes the air through a tube and facemask . Although CPAP can take some getting used to , it ' s worth the effort . CPAP can ' t cure sleep apnea – you have to keep using the machine –– but it dramatically reduces the symptoms . It can also help reduce your risk of heart disease , stroke , and diabetes , health problems that are associated with sleep apnea . True
As you get older , the brain has a harder time keeping the muscles in the airways tight during sleep . During the night , they ' re more likely to sag , closing off the airways and momentarily cutting off the oxygen supply . Treating OSA is important because it ' s linked with other medical problems like high blood pressure , heart disease , heart failure , and atrial fibrillation . According to experts , at least one in 10 people over age 65 have sleep apnea . People stop using it For the majority of people with sleep apnea , CPAP improves their symptoms and their sleep . But it only helps as long as you use it -- if you stop , symptoms come back . And according to studies , 50 % of people give up on treatment within a year , most of them in the first month . Why ? They don ' t give themselves a chance to get used to the treatment . If your CPAP isn ' t working for you , don ' t give up . Talk to your doctor . If you ' re not using CPAP as recommended , talk to your doctor . There are different kinds of machines and masks , and you may be able to switch to one that you ' re more comfortable using .
All of the above While CPAP is the standard treatment , losing weight if you are overweight often helps , too . Sleeping on your side may help , since airway collapse and obstruction tend to be worst when sleeping on your back . Some people prop themselves on their side using special pillows or wear something that makes sleeping on their backs uncomfortable . And there are devices you can wear in your mouth that push your jaw forward to help keep the airway open . For some people , having surgery to widen the airway may help . A surgeon might remove the tonsils or excess tissue from the back of the throat or stiffen the area by implanting a plastic insert .
Overnight sleep study Although your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and will check your mouth , nose , and throat for excess tissue , the only definitive test for sleep apnea is an overnight sleep study . It can be done at a sleep clinic or sometimes at home using portable equipment . It doesn ' t hurt – a technician places sensors on your head , face , chest , arms , legs , and finger and records the information . Although people may worry they won ' t sleep during the test , most people sleep enough so that the technician gets the information that ' s needed .
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