The dangers of sssssnoring

Snoring never bothered wives and roommates as much as it has now, when it seems that sleep apnea has claimed some young lives too unexpectedly.

Snoring is more than just a social problem. It is a sign of health problems and a likely precursor of some debilitating illnesses.

Do you have some reasons for concern for you or your partner? Take this test featured in www.putanendtosnoring.com. Their remarks on your answers are in parentheses but for a more personalized analysis, please visit their website.



1. At what age did snoring become a problem for you?

• Under 25 • 25 to 35 • 36 to 45 • over 46

(If snoring has become a problem early in your life, this may indicate you have a physical blockage obstructing your breathing – enlarged tonsils or adenoids, perhaps. Check with your doctor.)

2. Has your snoring worsened in the last year or two?

• Yes • No

3. Have you put on more than 10 lbs. in the last year or so?

• Yes • No

(If you are overweight, your throat tissues are less firm and more inclined to vibrate when you breathe. Bringing your Body Mass Index or BMI to 25 or less has been shown to dissipate snoring.)

4. Is your shirt collar size greater than 17 (man) or 16 (woman)?

• Yes • No

(If your shirt collar size is greater than 17 (man) or 16 (woman), that by itself is a good predictor of sleep apnea. The reason appears to be that a thick neck indicates you have more fat there. This means that your muscles have to do more work to keep your airways open. Apnea occurs when your muscles relax so much when you sleep that the walls of your throat completely close, preventing breathing.)

5. Do you smoke?

• Yes • No

(Smoking makes you snore more!)

6. Do you usually have an alcoholic drink within a few hours of going to bed?

• Yes • No

(Many would have a drink at night to relax – and unfortunately, that’s what alcohol does to throat muscles: Relaxes them, so that your throat tissue gets soft and vibrates. Sleeping pills have the same effect. Cutting down on alcohol at night is one way to reduce snoring.)

7. Does your doctor say that you have high blood pressure?

• Yes • No

(High blood pressure is another indicator of sleep apnea.)

8. Do you often wake up with a morning headache?

• Yes • No

(Frequent headaches in the morning is another indicator of sleep apnea.)

9. Do you often have a stuffy nose at night, perhaps from allergies or other nasal conditions?

• Yes • No

(Allergies and/or a stuffy nose make snoring worse. Often, snoring results from trying to force air through a stuffy nose. Keeping your nose clear may be the best remedy.)

10. Have you had your tonsils removed?

• Yes • No

(With your tonsils removal was removed a typical cause of snoring, especially in younger people. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can cause snoring. So can an enlarged uvula, the triangular piece of skin that hangs from your soft palate.)

11. Have you been told you snore loudly?

• Yes • No

12. Do you snore almost every night?

• Yes • No

13. Do you usually breathe through your nose or through your mouth when you sleep?

• Nose • Mouth

(Like many, it seems our mouth falls open when we sleep. There’s a good chance you can reduce your snoring if you learn to breathe through your nose at night.)

14. Have you been told that you appear to stop breathing when you sleep then suddenly start breathing again with a snort or gasp?

• Yes • No

(You report a primary symptom of sleep apnea: You stop breathing when you sleep, then wake with a start or snort. Please seek medical attention for this condition. Among other health risks, sleep apnea can lead to heart failure, because it deprives you of adequate levels of oxygen, making your heart work harder than normal.)

15. Have you ever awakened with a gasping or choking sensation?

• Yes • No

(If you ever wake with a gasping or choking sensation, that’s a major indicator of sleep apnea.)

16. Do you toss and turn frequently in the night?

• Yes • No

17. If you did not have a bed partner or roommate, would you be unaware that you snore?

• Yes • No

(It’s possible to have sleep apnea without knowing it. You wake up dozens of times per night but somehow are not conscious of it. But you sure feel sleepy. Could it be that your body is snoring out an SOS?)

18. Do you snore less while sleeping on your side?

• Yes • No

(Like many of us, you apparently snore less when sleeping on your side. One reason for this is that your tongue is less likely to roll back in your throat and obstruct your airway. So, the trick is to learn how can you sleep on your side without your partner having to roll you over all the time.)

How likely are you to doze off:

19. Sitting and reading

• Never • Slight chance • Moderate chance • Always

20. Watching TV

• Never • Slight chance • Moderate chance • Always

21. Sitting in a public place (such as a meeting or class or Mass)

• Never • Slight chance • Moderate chance • Always

22. As a car passenger

• Never • Slight chance • Moderate chance • Always

23. Lying down for a nap

• Never • Slight chance • Moderate chance • Always

24. Sitting and talking to someone

• Never • Slight chance • Moderate chance • Always

25. Sitting quietly after lunch

• Never • Slight chance • Moderate chance • Always

26. Driving, stopped in traffic for a few minutes

• Never • Slight chance • Moderate chance • Always

The website uses the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, developed in Australia, as one of the many measures to determine snoring type. "As you’d expect, the higher your score, the more likely it is that you have a sleeping disorder," the website warns.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Apnea means "not breathing." Thus, sleep apnea means there are moments when you are not breathing while asleep. Non-breathing episodes can occur as many as hundreds of times per night with each episode lasting 10 seconds or more.

The reason a person who has apnea does not get real rest is that he also "wakes up" a hundred times because the body is aroused when it lacks oxygen. A person with sleep apnea may be "waking up" a hundred times as well per night without knowing it. No wonder he is sleepy and tired even after a full night’s rest. This is what you call non-restorative sleep.

Experts say that during apneic episodes, the levels of oxygen in your body can drop to dangerously low levels and can result in cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart beats). This can at times be fatal. As oxygen levels drop, the body may give its usual "danger" response and let loose a burst of adrenalin that in turn can make your blood pressure shoot up. This makes one more prone to heart attacks and strokes.

A team of dentists at the University of California in Los Angeles School of Dentistry made a specific study. "When persons with sleep apnea fall asleep, their tongue falls back into their throat, blocking their airway. As they struggle for breath, their blood pressure soars," Dr. Arthur Friedlander, an oral surgeon who worked on the study, said. "We believe that this rise in blood pressure damages the inner walls of the carotid arteries lining the sides of the neck. Cholesterol and calcium stick to the injury sites and amass into calcified plaques, which block blood flow to the brain. The result is often a massive stroke."

One symptom is heavy snoring (especially, but not necessarily accompanied by choking or gasping after a few seconds of not breathing). There is also what you call "crescendo snoring" or a rising and declining volume of snoring in 30 to 90 second intervals. Snorts upon resumption of breathing can also be accompanied by movement in bed. People with apnea have very messed-up bedcovers when they wake up!

Other symptoms include falling asleep at inappropriate times such as at work, while driving, sitting in a chair, or watching TV, as well as morning headaches, low energy, and memory difficulties. One can really get a big headache when one does not get enough oxygen while asleep. A person with apnea is also susceptible to heartburn because difficulty of breathing at night causes acidic juices in the stomach to rise up the throat.

Apnea sufferers are also wrongly diagnosed to be depressed. Most of the time, they are simply exhausted and cannot function normally. Snoring is not also only a symptom of apnea – it could also cause it. "Any snoring is a sign that breathing is disrupted – otherwise, you wouldn’t make that noise. Your body has to work harder than it should to breathe. As you get older, and put on weight and lose muscle tone, your snoring can lead to periods of not breathing at night. That’s sleep apnea," experts explain.

Recent research also indicates that snoring may lead to diabetes. "The theory is that snoring reduces your intake of oxygen, triggering your body to produce more catecholamines, which in turn may lead to insulin resistance, a known precursor of diabetes," they add.

More than a social irritant, snoring should be taken as a serious message from your body that something may be wrong with you. Don’t take it lightly, see a doctor.

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E-mail: mylene@goldsgymmanila.com.