Sleep Apnea

Sleep Suffocation

Some medical doctors refer to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as sleep suffocation because the muscles of the tongue and throat relax during sleep and block the airway. Although, people with OSA wake up when this suffocation occurs, breathing battles through the night lead to reduced levels of oxygen and put a serious strain on the body. Children experiencing these disorders are at a high risk of developing conditions like Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD), hyperactivity, bed-wetting and aggressive behaviors. Any sign of snoring in a child should be taken very seriously.

Sleep Apnea and Serious Health Issues

• 30% of people with coronary artery disease have obstructive sleep apnea
• 45% of people with hypertension have obstructive sleep apnea
• 50% of people with congestive heart failure have obstructive sleep apnea
• 60% of people suffering from stroke have obstructive sleep apnea
• 80% of people with drug-resistant hypertension have obstructive sleep apnea

Life Issues

If you think you may have OSA…

• Please be careful driving any longer than a half hour. You have a significantly increased chance of an accident and are a worse traffic risk than a drunk driver!
• Refrain from drinking alcohol several hours before bedtime since alcohol relaxes the throat and makes this condition worse.
• Sleep on your side as much as possible, because sleeping on your back can worsen this disorder.
  

Next Steps

During your sleep evaluation at The Center for Sound Sleep, we provide you with a device to used in the privacy of your own home to see if you need a polysomnogram test. If we discover that a polysomnogram is necessary, your physician can refer you for an overnight test.