Healthy+5Winterspring2024spreadsfinal - Flipbook - Page 14
Snoring or sleep apnea?
How to tell the difference and
what to do about it
A
n estimated 45% of American adults snore on
occasion. Caused by the vibration of tissues near
the airway in the back of the throat as you inhale
and exhale, occasional snoring is usually harmless. But,
in the case of loud, disruptive snoring, a more serious, lifethreatening issue may be to blame.
According to Dr. Michael Algus, a pulmonary specialist
at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), an
estimated 30 million Americans have sleep apnea. But
perhaps more startling than that big number is the fact that
80% of people with the disorder haven’t been diagnosed.
“This is particularly concerning,” says Algus, “as people with
severe untreated apnea have three times the risk of dying
from any cause.”
Common symptoms of
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
In Adults
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Loud snoring interrupted by choking or gasping
for air
Restless sleep
Dry mouth or headache upon waking
Reduced ability to focus
Depression, anxiety, or irritability
In Children
Bedwetting
Exacerbated asthma
Hyperactivity
Understanding sleep apnea
Unlike snoring, which may be noisy but doesn’t interfere
with breathing, sleep apnea causes an individual to
repeatedly stop and start breathing while sleeping. Algus
notes, “A person with sleep apnea may stop breathing for
up to a minute at a time. How often this occurs can range
from around five times per hour to as many as 100 or
more times per hour. Patients often find themselves
gasping awake throughout the night and missing out on
quality sleep.”
As a result of interrupted sleep, sleep apnea is strongly
linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke,
depression, and an increased risk of dementia.
“People with severe
untreated apnea have
three times the risk of
dying from any cause.”
–Michael Algus, MD,
SVMC Pulmonology
12 | HEALTHY+ | WINTER–SPRING 2024
Learning and academic performance issues
While there are several types of sleep apnea, the most
common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This type
of apnea occurs when your throat muscles intermittently
relax to the point of collapse and block your airway
during sleep and contributing to the loud, often
interrupted, snoring.
Diagnosing and treating sleep apnea
There are several ways to diagnose OSA, all of which
involve ‘measuring your sleep’ through a sleep study.
While not an option for everyone, Sleep studies are
beneficial for adults between the ages of 18 and 65 who
have a high probability of moderate-to-severe OSA and no
other medical conditions.
A common first approach is a home sleep study, which
requires the patient to wear small recording device,
sensors, belts, and related cables and accessories while
sleeping at home.