After 20 years of practice, sleep specialist John Penek, M.D., FCCP, can tell immediately when he walks into the examination room if the patient has come to discuss a snoring problem.
That is because the majority of times the snorer is accompanied by a spouse. "Most of the time a husband is brought in by his wife who can’t take it anymore," says Dr. Penek. “The snorer sometimes is defensive and says things like, ‘If my wife would stop elbowing me in the side all night, then I’d have a good night’s sleep.’ Many times the snorer has no idea of the extent of the problem or the larger health implications.”
Snoring A to Z
Snoring occurs when the airway channel relaxes during sleep and becomes a conduit for air-induced vibration. When there is an obstruction in the airway,
structures in the throat vibrate together, producing sound. The spectrum of snoring ranges from an undetectable sound to levels as high as 90 to 120
decibels. The highest range is not far from the noise emitted by a jet aircraft at takeoff, which has been measured at 140 decibels.
Although snorers tend not to awaken themselves, they may greatly disrupt their own sleep and the sleep of a bedpartner. In addition, the sound may be damaging.
A study in the Journal of Otolaryngology found that bed partners of those who snore showed significant noise-induced hearing loss in the ear most exposed to the snoring.
Larger Health Issues
According to Dr. Penek, there is strong evidence that snoring can be dangerous to your health. “Snoring, especially heavy snoring that disturbs bedparter sleep, is often associated with a condition known as sleep apnea, which may indicate an increased risk of hypertension, cardiac arrythmias and sudden death during sleep,” he relates.
As many as 30 percent of men and women in midlife with high blood pressure also have problems with snoring and sleep apnea, which are
curable causes of elevated blood pressure.
Individuals with snoring and sleep apnea conditions are also at a significantly higher risk for automobile and industrial accidents. According to a study
in the Medical Post, snorers are six times as likely as non-snorers to have accidents while driving.
Sleep Apnea
Some snorers suffer from a condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea results in a complete or near complete obstruction to airflow for 10 seconds or more. A person with a typical case of sleep apnea will have apneas of 10
to 60 seconds or longer, and will have 5 or more per hour during sleep. Sleep apnea can occur from obstructed airflow, or from a problem with the central nervous system.
“A drop in oxygen alerts the brain to a problem, and the brain kicks the person
out of deep sleep into a more shallow sleep,” says Dr. Penek. “Many patients
have not slept properly in years.”
Sleep apnea can cause excessive sleepiness, which in turn can result in automobile accidents, lack of concentration, memory loss and reduced energy levels. For people suffering from heart trouble or stroke, sleep apnea makes their condition worse because of the lack of sleep and reduced oxygen levels and an increase in high blood pressure.
Patients who may have sleep apnea are diagnosed with a medical history and an overnight evaluation at The Kazmir Center for Sleep Disorders. Treatment involves the use of a C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure),
a breathing device that keeps the airway free of collapse, or one of several other treatment options.
Treatment
For snoring and sleep apnea, there are a variety of treatments.
These can include:
Risk factors for snoring include obesity, allergies, being male or a post-menopausal female, a deviated septum, consumption of alcohol before bed, eating late night meals and smoking.
Patients who no longer snore find themselves far more rested in their waking hours, says Dr. Penek. And their partners enjoy a much needed rest as well.
“It’s hard to sleep when you’ve got a bear lying next to you,” says Dr. Penek. “When the sound is gone, the bed partner’s sleep is no longer so severely impaired.”
