Archive for February, 2007
Sleep apnea is a very serious condition that is not always treated as such, sometimes with disastrous results. A sign of sleep apnea is snoring, since to snore is a reaction to the constriction of nasal airways and constrictions in the throat. Sadly, this sign, which should lead others to notice a problem, is often ignored. The conclusion, or more often the complaint, that my partner snores is often the only statement made before it is forgotten. Unfortunately, sleep apnea can kill; as it did December 29, 2004, just seven days after his forty third birthday, when national football hero Reggie White sadly passed away. Final results showed that, at least in part, his death was caused by the sleep disorder called sleep apnea.
Sleep can be very dangerous for people with sleep apnea. It’s caused by a relaxing of the muscles in the air passageways, which can make for episodes of breathing interruptions. Breathing is often restarted by a loud rumbling snore. These non-breathing events can last for anywhere from ten to thirty seconds. The scary part is that someone can stop breathing as many as one hundred times in an average night.
Recent studies on athletes are coming up with some startling results. In professional football’s push for “bigger is better” players more football players are obese now than ever before. There are concerns that with nearly four hundred players weighing over three hundred pounds they are setting a dangerous precedent. Based on the large necks of these men they are destined to have problems. The windpipe will start to get closed off as the larger tongue drops back during sleep. The uvula will block the airway and as the swollen tissues block the throat the athlete will have further difficulties with snoring and potentially develop serious life threatening sleep disorders. Surprisingly, studies have shown that fourteen percent of all professional football players suffer from sleep apnea. While up to thirty four percent of offensive and defensive linemen, Reggie White was one of these, are likely to be sufferers. When looking for signs and symptoms, loud snoring and daytime sleeping are the prime signals. Though it can be predicted pretty accurately by using a body mass index and checking neck size.
It’s a difficult thing to be told that what you do for a living, and make incredibly good money at, may kill you. But for many of these athletes that is exactly what the studies are showing. Despite their claims that after their careers are over they’ll lose the excessive weight too many have found that impossible after years of working hard to put it on. Are the coaches pushing these athletes to get bigger and stay bigger, the answer is absolutely. The average weight of a player has increased by ten percent since 1985. This higher weight not only risks more complicated injuries, it risks life threatening sleep disorders. The first sign of which is snoring. Let’s hope that next time the signs are recognized.
Anyone who snores, or has to share a bed with a snorer will know just how debilitating this condition can be.
Night after night of disturbed sleep can generate physical and emotional health problems, putting unbearable stresses and strains on relationships.
Some people are habitual snorers, others are intermittent snorers affected only when they have a temporary health problem such as a cold. Because of the size of the market for snoring remedies, the snorer is spoilt for choice when looking for a solution to his or her snoring problem.
There are mechanical devices designed to keep airways open; there are postural devices designed to hold the snorer in a sleeping position that is less likely to encourage snoring. There are sprays and decoctions all designed to soothe any irritation in the airways, thereby keeping them open for the silent passage of air.
Occasionally drugs are offered to cure the underlying health condition that is often at the root of snoring – although there are no drugs available to cure the condition of snoring itself. As we live in an age when people are increasingly exploring alternative health options, it will come as no surprise to discover that many are declining the use of allopathic medicines in favour of more natural remedies, including supplements.
The first consideration is to seek medical advice before trying any alternative remedy if you are already taking any form of prescription medication – whether it is for a snoring related condition or something entirely different. A number of drugs are known to interact unfavourably with herbs and oils and for this reason it is essential to check.
One of the benefits of alternative and natural remedies is that they tend to treat the person in a holistic manner often treating underlying conditions rather than just trying to alleviate symptoms. Snoring itself is not a health condition but it is a symptom of a number of health conditions and it is important that the underlying condition is identified and treated.
Aromatherapy is indicated for the treatment of snoring but as the nature of some of the essential oils can be toxic to the body, it is best to consult with a qualified aromatherapist. Blends of oils may be made available as a massage lotion for the neck and throat or as a gargle to soothe inflamed airways. Some of the stronger essential oils can be used in a steam bath to encourage the expulsion of mucous, thereby clearing the airways.
There are also herbal remedies available that work to clear the airways, allowing the unrestricted passage of air. Herbal remedies are also indicated to clear mucous and congestion in the sinuses.
Homeopathic treatment works on the basis of treating the person and not the disease or condition. For this reason, it is hard to predict which homeopathic remedies might be offered to alleviate snoring – it will depend on what the homeopath determines is the underlying personality-type causing the condition.
Reflexology can be used very effectively to stimulate organs, especially in the elimination process. For this reason it is very good for clearing congestion if this is thought to be at the root of the snoring problem.
The natural remedies can be just as effective as anything else in curing snoring. However, it is essential that anyone who snores is checked by their doctor to ensure that the snoring is not a sign of a more serious underlying health condition.
When we think of snoring, many of us automatically associate the issue with adults, and with good reason. It’s a fact that as many as 40% of American adults are known to snore frequently. However, many people fail to realize that snoring is also a problem with children. While not as many are affected, as many as 3% to 12% of preschool children have a primary snoring issue. These affected children are often well in every other sense of health, with no other symptoms. Also, as many as 2% of preschool children have Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS), a more serious form or snoring. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome has been increasingly pointed to for problems with children’s behavior and schoolwork ethic. If your child is snoring, it’s important to find out the cause of the snoring, so that you can accurately diagnose which treatments need to be made to help your child rest peacefully.
To find out if your child just has a normal snoring issue or Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, there are some factors to consider. Does your child seem well, not exhibiting any daytime sleepiness or irregular sleep patterns? If so, then primary snoring is usually the problem at hand. These issues are some of the warning signs for OSAS. In contrast to primary snoring, OSAS children often are found to have disrupted sleep, with snorts, pauses, and gasps in their breathing. OSAS children often also exhibit behavioral problems, short attention spans, and issues with school. If your child seems to fit these patterns, here are some more signs that they might have OSAS:
-Poor weight gain, or being overweight
-High blood pressure
-Frequent mouth breathing, nasally speech and obstruction of the nasal cavity
-Large tonsils and/or large adenoids
If you suspect that your child has Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, there’s ways to find out if your suspicions are true. One of the most common is an overnight sleep study known as a nocturnal polysomnography. However, if you are not located in a big city, it can be a problem finding a hospital that offers this form of diagnosis. Another way to test your child is to make an audio tape of your child’s breathing in a regular night’s sleep. These tapes can be delivered to an interpreter who can more accurately help to diagnose the problem that your child is facing.
If your child is found to have OSAS, there are treatment options available to fix the problem. These treatments usually involve removing enlarged adenoids and tonsils in a process known as an adenotonsillectomy. However, not all therapies are as drastic as surgery. For children who have a weight problem that may be causing their apnea, losing weight can be the key to getting them back on the road to health. Also, allergies have been known to cause OSAS, and treatment for the child’s allergy can bring them back up to health. For children that are unable to have surgery performed, or children that exhibit the same OSAS issues after an adenotonsillectomy, CPAP therapy with the use of a nasal mask is an option.
Whatever the cause, it is important to find out exactly which type of snoring is affecting your child, and if OSAS is the result of your diagnosis, it is important to help your child get back into good health so that they can lead a more normal life.
Posted in Snoring