If your husband snores loudly, keeping you awake, you are not alone; about 40 per cent of men snore. In addition to a good night's sleep, there are other good reasons for taking snoring seriously. Loud snorers are far more likely to suffer heart disease and strokes than people who do not snore, or even quiet snorers. On a daily basis, snorers and their partners can be sleepy during the day, potentially affecting driving and other activities that require safety and vigilance.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea, and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea.
Sleep Apnea is pause of breath during sleep. One or more breath is lost in this cessation, and it occurs through out the sleep. The reason is decreased level of oxygen in blood and can be caused due to obstruction in passage of air, due to a tonsil or the size of the tongue, the jaw structure, or even due to the relaxing of muscles in the path of air. The block obstructing passage of air could be in the nasal cavity as well. The sleeper is generally unaware of this obstruction of sleep, and the bed partner is the one who notices it first. The individual has trouble breathing, and will feel sleepy and tired during daytime.
According to new research, snoring can increase your risk of developing heart disease. The findings - published in Journal Sleep, a specialist medical journal - demonstrated a significant link between loud snoring and heart disease and strokes.
Sleep Apnea Syndrome refers to transient cessation of respiration during sleep. The most common kind of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSA) which is defined as the cessation of airflow during sleep preventing air from entering the lungs caused by an obstruction.
Sleep Apnea Syndrome refers to transient cessation of respiration during sleep. There is a sleep test, called polysomnography that is usually done to diagnose sleep apnea. Polysomnography is a study of sleep cycles and behavior, usually done all night long in a sleep center, which involves observing a person at sleep while continuously charting brain waves, muscle activity, breathing, eye movements, and heart rhythms.
Recently, a new form of treatment for snoring has been introduced. This involves the implantation of three non-absorbable, nonreactive implants into the palate. This procedure is done under topical/local anesthetic in the physician's office. These implants serve to stiffen and dampen the vibration of the palate and thus relieve snoring. Patients are able to return to work within a day or two.