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Sleep Apnea (also called Sleep Apnoea) is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, which force the sufferer to wake up to resume normal breathing, and disrupt and disturb their normal sleep cycle. These episodes, called apneas, usually last from a few seconds up to as long as sixty seconds in severe cases, and may occur repeatedly throughout the night. Sleep Apnea or Obstructive Sleep Apnea as it is sometimes
called, usually involves loud snoring as one of the symptoms.
Anyone that has ever slept with a snoring partner knows that it
can be seriously disruptive to one's own sleep. But what effect,
long term, does it have on a marriage? It is a common situation
in many marriages and apparently has more impact than many
couples think.
Obviously the experience of sleeping with a loud snoring partner
is not positive, but what can be done? This is the question that
The Sleep Disorders Center at Rush University Medical Center
recently set out to ask and hopefully solve. In doing so, they
hope to save marriages that might be in danger of divorce due to
this cronic, ongoing struggle to get enough rest at night....and
all the interpersonal implications of not achieving a balanced
level of sleep.
The Center is currently evaluating 10 couples in which the male
has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The couples
begin by completing surveys about sleepiness, marriage
satisfaction and quality of life. After this step the couples
spend the night in the Center's sleep lab where technicians
determine each partner's quantity and quality of sleep.
Two weeks after these tests, and treatment, the couple repeats a
night's sleep in the sleep lab for comparison purposes. The
results have been very interesting and mostly positive.
According to press releases from the Center, the early results
show that there is indeed a significant impact on the wife's
quality and quantity of sleep. It is termed a serious problem
that does indeed lead to a hostile and tense situation within
the marriage.
In one example cited, the husband's snoring was arousing the
wife out of sleep over eight times an hour. Her sleep efficiency
rating (the percentage of time she was actually asleep) was 73%.
The average person's sleep efficiency is closer to 90%.
In this example, the wife had attempted to use ear plugs,
earphones and had finally given up and started to sleep alone.
To treat the husband, the Center used a device known as a
continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP). This machine
is non-invasive and the flow of air it delivers prevents the
upper airway from collapsing during sleep, allowing the lungs to
perform normally.
In this particular case, the wife's quality of life measure
jumped from a 1.2 to a 7.0, indicating that the snoring had been
alleviated and was no longer significantly bothering her. Her
sleepiness scale (how tired she felt) dropped from 12 to a 6.
Marital Satisfaction scores improved from a 3 to 5.8 and the
wife's sleep efficiency moved up from 73% to 82%.
Obviously on every level, this treatment had made great strides
for the couple and showed promise in other situations.
The Rush Center is continuing tests expected to be completed in
April 2006. The Center will evaluate the results and expand on
the information being provided to the public.
Their press release is very specific about the measures taken as
each couple enters the program. As stated "...both the husband
and wife undergo simultaneous polysomonography, a sleep test
that monitors brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity,
heart rate and rhythms, breathing patterns, blood oxygen level
and body movements and respiratory sounds. All sensors are
noninvasive and do not cause pain or discomfort.
The study involves first diagnosing the sleep apnea. The husband
will sleep alone in the center as technicians monitor his sleep.
If he has sufficient sleep apnea, he will undergo a split night
study to determine the appropriate CPAP treatment.
Sleep apnea is a serious health problem that should be treated.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tissue in the back of
the throat collapses and blocks the airway. The breathing pause
lasts at least 10 seconds and can occur 10 or more times an
hour. Apnea lowers the oxygen level in the blood leaving the
patient vulnerable to hypertension, stroke and other
cardiovascular problems.
Obstructive sleep apnea can occur in men and women of any age;
however, it is most common in obese, middle-aged men. The most
common signs of sleep apnea are loud snoring, choking or gasping
during sleep, and fighting sleepiness during the day. In
addition to continuous positive airway pressure, treatment
includes losing weight, sleeping on your side instead of your
back, avoiding alcohol and tobacco." For additional information
go to www.sleep-apnea-facts.com. copyright 2006 Ann Robinette
About the author:
The author has sleep apnea and writes articles of interest to
others struggling with the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.
For more information go to www.sleep-apnea-facts.com.
Written by: Ann Robinette
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If left untreated, Sleep Apnea can be life threatening. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) can cause people to fall asleep at inappropriate times, such as while driving, endangering their lives and the lives of their passengers and those around them.
Sleep apnea also appears to put individuals at risk for stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), also known as "mini-strokes", and is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, gout and high blood pressure.
So, if you or a loved one are suffering from sleep apnea, be sure to see your doctor so that the sleep apnea symptoms can be treated, removed, or reduced before they become life threatening.
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