Vim & Vigor - Summer 2018 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 39

TRUE OR FALSE:

Only overweight people have sleep apnea.

FALSE. People of all sizes can have the sleep disorder. Obesity,
however, is the primary risk factor for sleep apnea in adults and children.
(For younger ones, medical conditions such as enlarged tonsils can play a
role, too.) Obesity contributes to airway collapse in two ways: fat in the
neck can lead to narrowing of the upper airway and smaller breaths
(larger breaths actually help keep the airway open). Other risk factors
include family history and a person's sex-men are more likely to develop
sleep apnea than women, though women's risk rises after age 50.

TRUE OR FALSE:

Sleep apnea can lead to other serious medical
conditions.

TRUE. People with sleep apnea are at increased risk of high blood
pressure, heart disease and stroke. Sleep apnea events trigger the body's
autonomic or stress systems, Rowley says, resulting in short-term
increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, these changes can
lead to heart disease and high blood pressure. In addition, decreases in
oxygen levels trigger inflammation, a factor in atherosclerosis, coronary
artery disease and stroke.

TRUE OR FALSE:

Changing sleep position will fix sleep apnea.

FALSE. In general, how a person sleeps rarely has an effect on
moderate to severe sleep apnea. In mild cases only, side sleeping can
be beneficial.

TRUE OR FALSE:

Sleep apnea is treated with medicine.

FALSE. Medications are generally not used to treat sleep apnea. The
most common and successful form of treatment is to use a continuous
positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, a masklike medical device that
provides a continuous flow of air to keep the airway open during sleep.
Some people use an oral appliance to keep the airway open; others may
benefit from surgery to remove excess tissue.

TRUE OR FALSE:

Lifestyle changes are helpful for someone with
sleep apnea.

TRUE. Weight loss is the most important recommendation made by
sleep specialists. They discourage the use of alcohol near bedtime, as it
relaxes the throat muscles (consumption should end at least four hours
before going to sleep). Specialists also suggest regular exercise because
it helps with weight loss and provides cardiovascular benefits. ■

YOU HAVE
SLEEP APNEA-
NOW WHAT?
There are many reasons you may not be
sleeping soundly. But if you suspect sleep
apnea may be the culprit, it's important to talk
with your doctor. "Not only can your provider
help with testing and diagnosis, he or she can
also provide helpful, everyday changes to minimize disruptive symptoms," says Hira Kohli,
MD, a primary care provider at Gwinnett
Medical Group Primary Care-Suwanee.
If additional testing is needed, the next
step will be a sleep study. For this study,
you might have the choice between visiting
a sleep laboratory or testing at home. In
the lab, you should expect to spend 11 to
12 hours from evening check-in to morning
checkout. Hours of sleep in the monitored
setting will match up with your routine bedtime. For a home test, you'll pick up instructions and monitoring equipment and, upon
waking in the morning, return it to the lab.
If the study confirms sleep apnea, you
might be fitted with a continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP) mask to wear every
night. You'll have follow-up appointments to
troubleshoot any issues with the mask.
For those who cannot tolerate a mask,
doctors can prescribe other devices that
resemble a dental appliance. Surgery is a
treatment of last resort for those who don't
respond to CPAP therapy. The most common type of surgery makes corrections to
the soft palate and tongue.

QUIZ

How Sleepy Are You?
If you struggle to get a restful night's
sleep, it could be sleep apnea. Take the
quiz to learn more gwinnettmedical
center.org/sleepapnea.

SUMME R 2018

http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/sleepapnea http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/sleepapnea

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