6 ~ INSPIRE ~ 7

DO YOU KNOW

Do you and your mate take turns tossing pillows at one another during the night in an effort to stop each other’s snoring? You both could have sleep apnea. 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, which means the brain — and the rest of the body – may not get enough oxygen. Sleep apnea is linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, blood pressure issues, weight gain and memory issues.

TAKE OUR ONLINE SLEEP QUIZ AT HEALTHPARTNERSLOCALCARE.ORG, where you will also find more information on our Sleep Apnea education session and Sleep Center Tour.

It’s estimated that more than 18 million Americans have sleep apnea and as many as 80 percent of those people may be undiagnosed. “It’s growing like an epidemic,” says Mustafa Ucer, MD, medical director of the Lakeview Sleep Health Center. And while its symptoms can range from annoying to potentially dangerous, the impact of untreated sleep apnea on your overall health can be serious and even deadly.

Molly Fox, RT, a respiratory therapist at the Westfields Hospital & Clinic Sleep Center, says lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more, quitting smoking or drinking less, may lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea. “Often people find they have the energy to make those changes only after getting a good night’s sleep for the first time in years.”

Sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Loud snoring• Daytime tiredness• Frequent napping• Frequent awakenings• Morning headaches• Frequent nighttime urination• Restless sleeping

Oftentimes, says Fox, it’s the partner who notices the signs of sleep apnea first. “It’s easy for people to be in denial or not want to do anything about it, but the benefits of getting treatment could be life-changing.”

TREATMENTS A diagnosis of sleep apnea starts with a visit to the doctor. He or she can refer you to a sleep specialist for a sleep study. After the sleep study, you’ll receive a treatment plan that commonly involves one or more of the following:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): Mostcommon for moderate to severe sleep apnea. The CPAPmachine gently blows air into your mouth during sleep tohelp keep your airway open.

• Mouthpiece: Best for mild sleep apnea. Custom-fit andcan help adjust your lower jaw and tongue to keep yourairway open while you sleep.

• Laser surgery: Surgery widens the breathing passages.Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, surgerymay not eliminate symptoms entirely.

Patients report that when they use CPAP each night, they feel more alert during the day, have improved mood and better memory, says Dr. Ucer. “CPAP therapy can prevent and even reverse serious health problems linked to sleep apnea such as heart disease.”

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AmeryClear Lake LuckHudson Mahtomedi New Richmond SomersetStillwaterTurtle Lake

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LOCATION SLEEP APNEAa quiet epidemic

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