Snoring is no joke.Byline: Andrea Damewood The Register-Guard After marrying an excellent cook about six years ago, Collin Holloway said he packed on about 85 pounds. He had always been fit before, Holloway said, and the weight brought on some pretty phenomenal feats of snoring snoring, rough, vibratory sounds made in breathing during sleep or coma. The noisy breathing is the result of an open mouth and a relaxation of the palate; it is frequently induced by lying on one's back. . "It got to the point where the snoring was keeping us both awake at night," he said. Still, it took three years of hounding to convince him to head into the Sleep Disorder Sleep disorder Any condition that interferes with sleep. At least 84 have been identified, according to the American Sleep Disorders Association. Mentioned in: Insomnia, Night Terrors Clinic at Sacred Heart Medical Center Sacred Heart Medical Center may refer to: In the United States:
"You know how stubborn men can be," said Holloway, who is 56. "Secondly, I'm asleep. I had no idea what it could be like firsthand." Finally, two weeks ago, he strapped a heart monitor, finger oxygen monitor and microphone to his body and tucked into his bed in west Eugene. The results were shocking: He quit breathing in his sleep 64 times an hour. For 20 to 30 seconds. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea sleep apnea, episodes of interrupted breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in which relaxation of muscles in the throat repeatedly close off the airway during sleep; the person wakes just enough to take a gasping breath. , a condition in which a blocked airway - most commonly caused by age and obesity - causes a person to stop breathing in their sleep. Severe sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. "It's an eye opener," he said. "When I would start to breathe again to take breath; to feel a sense of relief, as from danger, responsibility, or press of business. See also: Breathe , my heart would spike, which is telling you you're a candidate for a heart attack." The doctor, he said, told him his health risk was so great that if he had taken the test at the sleep center, he would not have been permitted to go home. Sawing logs is actually a pretty scary business. Most sufferers go undiagnosed Though Dagwood's window-rattling snoooxxxxx is a perennial punchline in the comic strip comic strip, combination of cartoon with a story line, laid out in a series of pictorial panels across a page and concerning a continuous character or set of characters, whose thoughts and dialogues are indicated by means of "balloons" containing written speech. "Blondie," it's really no laughing matter No Laughing Matter is an episode of U.S. Acres from the series Garfield and Friends. It was the 74th episode produced for the series, although it is listed as the 71st episode on the Garfield and Friends DVD. It originally aired on October 21, 1989. , said Dr. Richard Marcus, director of the Sleep Disorder Clinic. "Everyone makes fun of a noise like that, but the fact is snoring can be more serious." And the biggest danger is that most people don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. they have it. About 15 to 25 percent of the adult population is estimated to suffer from sleep apnea, said David Pettit, clinical manager at the Emerald Sleep Disorders Sleep Disorders Definition Sleep disorders are a group of syndromes characterized by disturbance in the patient's amount of sleep, quality or timing of sleep, or in behaviors or physiological conditions associated with sleep. Center in Eugene. Only about 2 percent of those people are diagnosed, he said. "It's just basic poor knowledge," Marcus said. "People are unaware." A cacophony of snoring will be followed by a period of silence - where no air is passing into the lungs. Oxygen levels rise and drop in the bloodstream, forcing the heart to speed and slow - which can have fatal consequences, Marcus said. Sleep apnea can strike at any age, but certain factors contribute to the disorder, Pettit said. As people age, their formerly taut muscles relax, blocking the airway. Fatty tissue does the same. "With the weight gain Americans are experiencing, it's becoming more and more common," he said. Pettit said he's seen severe cases involving 5-foot-tall, 100-pound young women. Overweight children are also beginning to make up a portion of patients at the sleep centers, Pettit said. While adults with sleep apnea are more likely to be tired and doze off during the day, children react with hyperactivity hyperactivity, excessive physical activity of emotional or physiological origin, usually seen in young children; one of the components of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. , he said, adding that about 25 percent of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADD or ADHD) formerly hyperactivity Behavioral syndrome in children, whose major symptoms are inattention and distractibility, restlessness, inability to sit still, and difficulty concentrating on one thing for any actually have sleep disorders. But he estimated that about 60 percent of those with sleep apnea are middle-aged men. Sleep apnea is very treatable Fortunately, testing is simple and treatment is easy. "The good thing is, if we catch it, we can fix it," Pettit said. "It's very treatable." Those who fear they may have sleep apnea should assess how sleepy they are during the day, he said - most who suffer from the disorder have daytime drowsiness drows·i·ness n. A state of impaired awareness associated with a desire or inclination to sleep. Also called hypnesthesia. drowsiness Medtalk Semiconsciousness; grogginess, sleepiness because their breathing troubles keep their brains from entering the deepest sleep stages. Patients should then talk with their physician and get a referral to a local sleep center. Because it's considered preventative medicine, sleep tests are usually covered by insurance, Pettit said. If sleep apnea is the cause of snoring, patients are usually given a continuous positive air pressure machine, or CPAP CPAP abbr. continuous positive airway pressure Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) A ventilation device that blows a gentle stream of air into the nose during sleep to keep the airway open. . The CPAP forces air into a person's airway, past the blockage, alleviating the pressure on the heart, he said. Patients who lose weight and take other steps to reduce pressure on their airways may eventually ditch the device, Pettit said. Last Monday, Holloway strapped on his CPAP - which uses his nasal passages for air flow - for the first time. He is also walking 3 miles a day, to bring down his weight. "I actually feel pretty good," he said. "I did feel like I've had tons of energy today. I know I've slept all through the night, which is rare for me." Though the CPAP may take a little getting used to - opening his mouth produces a "windstorm wind·storm n. A storm with high winds or violent gusts but little or no rain. windstorm A storm with high winds or violent gusts but little or no rain. " he said - Holloway said his only regret is waiting so long to get help. "If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably have gone in sooner," he said. "I'm glad I did it. If I had not gotten the test I'd still believe everything is OK." Sleeping safe and sound Many who snore snore (snor) 1. rough, noisy breathing during sleep, due to vibration of the uvula and soft palate. 2. to produce such sounds during sleep. snore v. may have sleep apnea, a condition in which a blocked airway causes people to stop breathing in their sleep. Here's some tips to help keep your airways clear. Lose weight: Any fatty tissue will add weight to your neck, causing it to press down on your pipes. Doctor's say this is one of the best things you can do. Stay sober: Alcohol and sedatives also increase snoring, because they cause throat muscles to relax. Sleep sideways: Lying on your back also encourages gravity to clamp down on your pipes. Go to the doctor: Only a sleep test from a professional can determine if your snoring is a sign of something serious. If you have sleep apnea, doctors can provide treatment. Sometimes, face shape, a deviated septum Deviated Septum Definition The nasal septum is a thin structure, separating the two sides of the nose. If it is not in the middle of the nose, then it is deviated. Description The nasal septum is composed of two parts. from a broken nose or other factors can cause snoring - a trip to the ear, nose and throat doctor can help. Get a little higher: Elevating your head on pillows above 45 degrees uses gravity to your advantage, pulling things that could block your airways downward. Breathe Right Breathe Right™ Sports medicine A proprietary Band-Aid™-like nasal strip worn on the nasal bridge, said to improve breathing by opening the nasal passages Indications Temporary relief of breathing difficulties due to deviated nasal : Nasal strips rarely work, especially for those who have serious sleep apnea, doctors say. Strips are good for people whose snoring is caused by "flimsy nostrils," which collapse when a person breathes in. Sleep disorder symptoms If any of the following comments apply to you then you may have a sleep disorder. I have been told that I snore, gasp or quit breathing during my sleep. I have high blood pressure. I have woken up with my heart pounding or having skipped a beat. I frequently feel sleepy during the day, even though I sleep well at night. I often awake with a dry mouth. I often awake with a headache. I have almost fallen asleep while driving or at work. I have "sleep attacks" where I fall asleep even though I fight it. I see vivid dreamlike images when waking up or falling asleep. I have sudden weakness when angered, surprised or alarmed. I have awakened a·wak·en tr. & intr.v. a·wak·ened, a·wak·en·ing, a·wak·ens To awake; waken. See Usage Note at wake1. [Middle English awakenen, from Old English unable briefly, to move. I often take longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep. After I awaken during the night, I have difficulty returning to sleep. Epworth sleepiness scale Epworth Sleepiness Scale Sleep disorders A testing instrument used to indicated a person's risk of dozing in specific situations, as well as daytime sleepiness. See Sleep disorder. How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations, in contrast to just feeling tired? This refers to your usual way of life in recent times. Even if you have not done one of these activities recently, try to picture how you would act. Use the following scale to choose the best answer for each situation: 0: No chance of dozing 1: Slight chance of dozing 2: Moderate chance of dozing 3: Strong chance of dozing Sitting and reading Watching TV Sitting inactive in a public place (such as a movie theater or meeting) As a passenger in a car for one hour Lying down to rest in the afternoon Sitting and talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to someone Sitting quietly after a lunch with no alcohol In a car while stopped for a few minutes in traffic To find your sleepiness score, tally your answers and check them against this key: 1-6: You are getting enough sleep 7-8: Your score is average 9 or more: Seek a consultation from a sleep specialist as soon as possible |
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