The holidays are almost here and not a creature will be stirring — not even a mouse — but what happens when you hear one of your houseguests snoring excessively during their long winter’s nap?
Loud snoring is often brushed aside as a funny or frustrating habit, but it might mean the person has Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Other symptoms can include gasping or choking at night, excessive sleepiness during the day, drowsiness while driving, restless sleep, poor memory or concentration, high blood pressure, and being overweight or obese.
Registered respiratory therapist Jaime Williams says Obstructive Sleep Apnea is something that affects approximately five per cent of men and three per cent of women, but many don’t even realize they have it.
“The holidays are a busy time and it’s natural for people to be more tired than usual, but if they’re really tired — and it’s not getting any better — it might not just be the hustle and bustle of the season,” says Williams. “It could be that they’re not getting proper rest because Obstructive Sleep Apnea keeps waking them up, whether they realize it or not.”
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when a person repeatedly stops breathing while they sleep due to a collapse in their airway.
It isn’t always clear why a person has Obstructive Sleep Apnea, but causes can include weight gain, alcohol or sedative use, decreased muscle tone, or the physical makeup of the person’s airway.
Since many of the symptoms — like sleepiness, restlessness and high blood pressure — could indicate other health issues, Williams says it isn’t always clear to people if they need to investigate something. During this time of year, he says people often blame their daytime sleepiness on their big turkey dinner and blame any nighttime snoring on overindulging in holiday beverages.
“A lot of people just don’t know the symptoms, so they don’t make the connection that they may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea,” says Williams. “We’re always trying to raise awareness so more people understand what can indicate they — or their partner or a family member — may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.”
Williams is the regional director of Respiratory Therapy Specialists Inc. (RTS) and says Obstructive Sleep Apnea can only be diagnosed through a sleep study, which can be done in a single night in the comfort of your own bedroom.
“One of our respiratory therapists shows you how to use a portable sleep monitor, and you bring it home with you to use that night,” says Williams. “The next day, you just bring the device back in, we evaluate the data and shortly after you get your results.”
Williams says the overnight sleep study is free, and he urges anyone to call for more information if they — or a family member — may need to be tested for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Left undiagnosed and untreated, Obstructive Sleep Apnea can result in motor vehicle collisions, decreased quality of life, diabetes, impotence, high blood pressure, stroke or cardiac arrest.
“We want people to call us if there’s even a chance they might need treatment,” says Williams. “It can be very serious to ignore the symptoms.”
When someone is diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Williams says the most common and successful treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). These systems apply continuous, mild air pressure to keep a person’s airways open.
“Keeping our patients comfortable is our primary goal, so we choose products that use the latest technology,” says Williams. “We have a wide range of CPAP machines, and our patients rest assured knowing they are receiving the most comfortable and advanced treatment for their condition.”
With 2020 just around the corner, Williams says now is the time to make your health a priority and talk to RTS about setting up a sleep study.
“If this is something you’ve been putting off for a while, this is your chance to focus on your health and start the new year off right,” says Williams. “If you’re diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and start your treatment, you might feel healthier and happier in 2020 than you have in decades.”
