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Sleep Apnea—A Closer Look

By Darien Simon, M.S.

In addition to disrupted sleep, the sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea, characterized by loud snoring and/or periodic snorting or choking sounds, can cause headaches or dry throat in the morning, a lack of interest in sex, personality changes, depression, deteriorating mental functioning, high blood pressure, heartbeat irregularities, an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, excessive daytime drowsiness, the usual signs of a lack of restful sleep (irritability, difficulty concentrating, remembering things, and learning, mood swings, and excessive daytime drowsiness), and a 2 – 3 times greater risk of being involved in an auto accident due to drowsiness. In some cases, severe obstructive sleep apnea has been a cause of death from respiratory arrest. Obstructive sleep apnea is most commonly associated with obesity and snoring. It is more common in middle-aged men (1 in 25 have it) than women in middle age (1 in 50 have it). There are also differences in the incidence of sleep apnea based on heredity. If someone in your family has it, you have an increased chance of developing obstructive sleep apnea yourself. And people with with Hispanic, African-American, and Pacific Islander ancestry are more often affected by obstructive sleep apnea than those with Caucasian ancestry. However, no group is immune. Most often, a person with obstructive sleep apnea is not aware of the cause of their poor quality sleep until their partner tells them about the loud sounds they make while sleeping. If you have reason to suspect you have obstructive sleep apnea, you should consult your health care provider. In addition to questions about how you function in the daytime, and how you sleep, diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea usually requires a physical examination of the nose, mouth, and throat. A polysomnogram may be suggested. Most polysomnograms are done in a sleep center, but a slightly less complicated test may be conducted in your home. If you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, check with your health care provider before using Dream Boost or any other sleep aid or enhancer.