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Healthy Aging -
Most people probably think of aging as a gradual
physical decline from middle age onward, eventually
matched by a slowing down of the ability to learn or
perform intellectually. |
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When
Snoring is no Joke:
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Thousands
of Canadians have sleep apnea and don't
know it.
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(Canadian Health Network)
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Bob* was in his early forties,
enjoyed a variety of hobbies and loved his job as a
documentary filmmaker. Although Bob made it a
priority to get at least eight hours of sleep each
night, he couldn't figure out why he always felt so
tired. At times he seemed to have no energy at all –
he was too exhausted to play sports and would often
fall asleep while reading or watching TV. He tried
going to bed earlier at night, but it didn't help.
After months of feeling tired and irritable, Bob
decided to see his doctor. "I was so sick and tired
of being tired," he says. Bob was referred to a
sleep clinic for overnight testing and a diagnosis
of sleep apnea was quickly confirmed.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes your breathing
to stop repeatedly while you sleep. These breathing
pauses or apneas usually last 10 to 30 seconds and
can happen many times throughout the night. The most
common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep
apnea which happens when the upper airway or throat
gets blocked during sleep. Often, the blockage
happens when the soft tissue in the back of the
throat collapses and closes during sleep.
Relaxed throat muscles, a narrow airway, a large
tongue or extra fatty tissue in the throat can also
block the airway. One in five adults has mild sleep
apnea and one in fifteen adults have at least
moderate sleep apnea. Kids can also get sleep apnea;
obstructive sleep apnea affects one to three per
cent of children.
Why sleep is so important
Sleep, along with a
healthy diet and exercise, is one of the
overlooked keys to good health, says Dr.
Najib Ayas, assistant professor in the
Division of Respiratory Medicine,
University of British Columbia. When
sleep is disturbed over long periods of
time it can negatively affect your
health and feelings of well-being.
Sleep needs are different for each
person – some need eight hours to feel
properly rested while others need nine
or more hours to feel refreshed. The
right amount of sleep is whatever leaves
you feeling rested and alert. While most
people can follow simple steps to sleep
better – going to bed at the same time
each night, avoiding big meals, alcohol
and caffeine before bed – people with
sleep apnea must seek treatment from
their doctor to get proper sleep.
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Sleep apnea is serious
Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to many
problems, including difficulty with learning and
memory, poor job performance and depression.
Evidence is now emerging about two of the gravest
consequences of untreated sleep apnea:
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Increased risk for traffic accidents. Tired,
drowsy drivers with untreated sleep apnea are
less alert and less able to concentrate behind
the wheel. Research published in the New England
Journal of Medicine suggests that people with
sleep apnea are two to seven times more likely
than healthy persons to have a traffic accident.
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Link between untreated sleep apnea and
cardiovascular disease
Sleep apnea can also increase your risk for high
blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. In
sleep apnea it's believed that the sudden and
repeated drops in blood oxygen levels can
increase your blood pressure and strain your
cardiovascular system, which, in turn, can lead
to heart attack and stroke. A recent
studsignificant link between moderate to severe
sleep apnea and strokey showed that there is a ,
independent of other known risk factors.
Dr. Ayas says further research needs to be done
to better understand the underlying relationship
between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease
and stroke. A number of interrelated risk
factors for sleep apnea – obesity, diabetes,
high blood pressure, alcoholism and smoking –
are also known to increase the risk for heart
disease.
The bottom line is to see your doctor if you
think you might have sleep apnea. "It's so
important for people with sleep apnea to get
treatment," stresses Dr. Ayas. "Many of the
people we see at our clinic are ticking time
bombs on the verge of having a major heart
attack or stroke." Your doctor can also suggest
other lifestyle changes to reduce your sleep
apnea symptoms and risk for other diseases.
Fortunately, there is easy, effective therapy
available for sleep apnea.
CPAP — a therapy that works
After Bob's diagnosis of sleep apnea his doctor
recommended
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
therapy. CPAP works by delivering a steady stream of
air through a special mask to keep your airway open
during sleep. A machine gently blows pressurized
room air to the mask through a flexible tube. The
constant flow of air pressure from the mask prevents
your airway from collapsing when you breathe in.
Bob
tried using the mask for a few weeks but found it
uncomfortable and difficult to use.
Before long, the mask ended up on a shelf in his
closet. Sadly, Bob continued to struggle with his
symptoms for several more years until he got the
support he needed to make his CPAP therapy work. He
credits his wife of seven years Juanita*, with
helping him to manage his sleep apnea and follow
through with his CPAP therapy.
Learn the signs and symptoms of sleep
apnea
Sleep apnea is sometimes called the snoring disease
because snoring is one of the symptoms. But snoring
by itself doesn't necessarily mean that you have
sleep apnea. You can take this
sleepiness test to see if you're at risk.
If
you have any of the following signs, see your
doctor:
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daytime sleepiness
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loud snoring followed by silent pauses
gasping or choking during sleep
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morning headache
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irritability or mood changes
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poor concentration or memory loss
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lowered sex drive
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falling asleep while driving.
Family members or bed partners often pick up on the
signs of sleep apnea first. Many people with sleep
apnea don't know they're snoring and gasping for
breath at night. In fact, they may even think
they're sleeping well!
Bob's wife Juanita recalls her frustration in trying
to cope with her husband's snoring and his
sometimes-irritable moods that came from lack of
sleep. "I would move to the couch and still hear his
thunderous snoring even though he was sleeping down
the hall. I felt frustrated and stressed about not
being able to get enough sleep myself."
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At
his wife's urging Bob finally decided to ask his
health provider to help adjust his CPAP mask so it
fit more comfortably. He bought a newer model mask
with a quieter unit and a built-in humidifier, which
helped to reduce the dryness in his throat and nose.
After a couple of weeks Bob was able to use his CPAP
machine all night. He says the difference was truly
remarkable. "I felt fantastic, more alert. I stopped
getting colds all the time. I was a much happier
person."
If you have any of the signs and symptoms listed
above, see your doctor. The sooner your doctor
confirms a diagnosis of sleep apnea, the sooner you
can begin therapy. Like Bob, you will feel better
rested, more energetic and reduce your risk for
serious health problems.
What about lifestyle
changes?
In addition to using his
CPAP therapy regularly, Bob also lost 15
pounds, bringing his body weight down to
a healthy range. Obesity is a key risk
factor for sleep apnea. Being overweight
significantly increases your risk
because having extra fatty tissue around
your neck can put pressure on your
airway during sleep.
Other risk factors include alcohol and
tobacco use and having a family history
of the disorder. If you have sleep apnea
and you are overweight ask your doctor
or other health professional for help in
creating a weight loss plan for you. The
most important lifestyle changes for
people with sleep apnea are:
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lose weight if you
are overweight
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don't smoke
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sleep on your side
instead of on your back
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stick to a regular
sleep schedule
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avoid caffeine,
alcohol and sleeping pills.
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*Names changed to protect privacy
Source:
Canadian Health
Network |
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"It's so important for people with
sleep apnea to get treatment" |
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