Do You Have A Sleep Disorder?
Listening to someone snore while you are trying to fall asleep is certainly annoying. It is equally bothersome to wake yourself up by snoring. You feel plagued by restless sleep and daytime fatigue, but you tell yourself, it’s just snoring. But snoring can be much more than irritating – it can be a signal of serious health problems.
More than 15 million Americans suffer from sleep disordered breathing. Loud snoring, morning headaches, gasping for breath while sleeping and daytime sleepiness are good indicators that something more serious is happening. Studies show that sleep apnea and other sleep disorders can raise your blood pressure, damage your heart and aggravate conditions like diabetes. Long term snoring can even cause deafness over time.
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructed sleep apnea (OSA), and central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain fails to tell your body to breathe. This type of sleep apnea is less common than OSA. OSA is when the airway becomes obstructed and closed off while you are trying to breathe during sleep.
Central sleep apnea and OSA both prevent your body from getting the oxygen it needs, can leave you feeling tired after a night’s sleep and can cause other medical problems, such as high blood pressure. Other sleep disorders such as periodic limb movement and insomnia can also cause serious problems for your body.
How do you tell if it’s just snoring or something more serious? Take a look at Epworth’s Sleepiness Scale and talk to your primary care doctor. Based on your symptoms, your doctor can refer you for a sleep study or a consultation with a physician who specializes in sleep medicine.
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Rate how likely you are to doze off or fall asleep during the following situations, in contrast to just feeling tired.
- 0: no chance of dozing
- 1: slight chance of dozing
- 2: moderate chance of dozing
- 3: high chance of dozing
Situations:
- ______ Sitting and reading
- ______ Watching TV
- ______ Sitting inactive in a public place (theater or a meeting)
- ______ As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
- ______ Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
- ______ Sitting and talking to someone
- ______ Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol
- ______ In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic
To check your sleepiness score, total the points:
- 1 – 6: Congratulations, you are getting enough sleep!
- 7 – 8: Your score is average
- 9 and up: Seek the advice of a sleep specialist without delay