Cracking the Sleep Code

10 Reasons Why You Need to Treat Your Obstructive Sleep Apnea...Now

Do you fit into one of these scenarios?

A.  You snore and you're tired during the day

B.  You have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and haven't yet found a treatment that works for you

Here are 10 very good reasons to seek help... until the job is done.

1.  You're at higher risk for stroke

2.  You're at higher risk for congestive heart failure

3.  You're at higher risk for high blood pressure

4.  You will be more productive

5.  You will actually feel good during the day

6.  You will be more patient with people

7.  Your spouse will be able to sleep in the same bed again

8.  You might actually enjoy seeing a sunrise

9.  You won't be endangering your life or others while driving

10. You will love more and be a more lovable person

Bonus #11.  People have died in their sleep because of sleep apnea

Do You Snore? Your health could be in danger

I wanted to share an article from sleepeducation.com that tells a story that is all too common.  In my field of work I have heard many similar stories such as this man's. My hope is that through community awareness about the dangers of sleep apnea and keeping stories like these circulating that it will expedite the action taken by the sleep apnea sufferer.

John had known all his life that he snored. Both his dad and his college roommate did too, so he figured it wasn’t a big deal.

It became a big deal to his wife, Marie, after they got married. His snoring was so loud that it was keeping her up at night. She constantly complained about it, but John thought she just had to get used to it.

New findings: The link between sleep disorders and diabetes

Recently there has been a light shed on the importance of screening for sleep disorders in patients with diabetes.  Studies have already shown that sleep apnea is linked to arrhythmia's, congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.  Now there are new findings that poor sleep has a negative effect on glycemic control.

Gordon Irving, MD medical director of the Swedish Pain and Headache Center in Seattle, says "research linking sleep disturbance to an increased risk for diabetes and (and vice versa) is fascinating and relevant to why a practitioner should address sleep problems in this population."

We know that overall sleep quality is directly related to our bodies basic system of homeostasis...moods, illnesses and emotional problems go hand in hand with lack of sufficient sleep.  Anesthesiology News February 2007 published a study and found that when healthy volunteers who were allowed only 4 hours of sleep a night for a week took longer to regulate their blood sugar levels after a glucose challenge and they secreted less insulin, which is a sign of insulin resistance.

Everything I've read talks about lack of sleep being the root of a host of health issues but this article Anesthesiology News also talked about the health risks of too much sleep. Finally something for those "sleep aholics" that have no problems sleeping.  I can hear those sound sleepers now, "What? the nerve!"  Well it is true. It states "large sample studies have found that short sleep (less than six hours per night) and long sleep (more than eight hours per night) predict increased risk of onset of diabetes." Lucky for those folks who sleep longer than eight hours... they can always set the alarm.

New Findings: Sleep apnea found in pacemaker users

The article below by Salynn Boyles, makes it clear to me that the word "cardio-pulmonary" wasn't made up by mistake.  Breathing problems affect the heart and visa versa. Cardiologist Kenneth Ellenbogen, MD professor of medicine in Virginia, stated that heart patients who are candidates for pacemakers should be screened for sleep apnea. He also states that identifying and treating sleep apnea may be as important in heart patients as identifying and treating high blood pressure and diabetes.

I think as research continues we'll find that sleep apnea is a source of a host of diseases.

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Sleep Disorder Often Undiagnosed; Treatment May Help Heart

Sleep Apnea common in pacemaker users

   

By Salynn  Boyles
WebMD Medical News

   

Reviewed by Louise  Chang, MD

   

  March 12, 2007 -- Heart patients with pacemakers have a high prevalence of undiagnosed sleep apnea, findings from a small European study suggest.   

Researchers evaluated 98 pacemaker patients for sleep apnea. Fifty-nine percent of the patients had undiagnosed sleep apnea.  The findings are reported in the April issue of the American Heart Association publication Circulation.

    Although it is not clear from the study if sleep apnea contributed to the need for the pacemakers, the findings highlight the need for a greater awareness of the potential association between the two conditions, study co-author Patrick Levy MD, PhD, tells WebMD.   

“We know that there is a relationship between sleep apnea and heart arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm),” Levy says. “The question is, ‘If we treat the sleep apnea will we reduce the need for pacemakers?’ We don’t know, but we need to find out.”

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Don't Delay Treatment!

Are you an individual who has been told numerous times by your physician to get a sleep study but you just haven't gotten around to it?  Or are there more subtle signs...a spouse or partner has  been complaining of your snoring and has to nudge you when they hear you stop breathing.   Or are you just really tired during the day even when you thought you had gotten enough sleep?

Any of these three scenarios is a red flag.  They are just different stages all leading to the same  outcome...poor health and possibly even death.  Snoring is not to be taken lightly when it is accompanied by consistent tiredness or cessation of breath during sleep, you could have obstructive sleep apnea.

It amazes me in my industry...how so many patients resist getting help for their symptoms. Maybe it shouldn't amaze me since the community overall is largely uneducated about the health risks associated with this deadly breathing disorder.  When I say "largely" it doesn't compare to the lack of awareness just 5 to 10 years ago...so there has been a lot of progress.

Just 5 to 10 years ago medical students were not taught about sleep disorders.  Family practitioners and internists were not taught about sleep disorders like they are today.  Now they are becoming  very educated and even taking a major role the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea.  Health problems such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia's, high "bad" cholesterol levels which can result in cardiovascular disease all are caused by sleep apnea.  "No not me" you say?  "I don't have it that bad, I've been snorer for  years and falling asleep at my desk is my only symptom"  THINK AGAIN.

There are likely many things that are taking place in your body that you have no idea about.  Just imagine holding your breath for 10 to 45 seconds anywhere from 5 to sometimes 80 times an hour.  Think how hard your heart has to work when it is deprived of oxygen.  Over years this can become quite serious, causing a trickle effect from one health issue to another.  Please ask your doctor for a sleep study if you experience symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.

You can fill out a sleep questionnaire at   "Always Sleepy?!"  It is safe to say that snoring coupled with excessive daytime sleepiness needs looking into.  How long have you had the symptoms?