Men's health: Snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, Wichita experts weigh in

June 22, 5:51 PMWichita Health Care ExaminerAndi Atwater

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Snoring may not just be a night time irritant. It could be a sign of a bigger health problem, one that could eventually lead to serious cardiovascular problems.

While women certainly aren’t free from snoring, the majority of snorers – some 40 percent of men – are victims of this nightly ritual.

Snoring is defined as noisy breathing that happens because a person’s air passages are partially obstructed.  Experts say it is usually due to the soft tissues of the palate, uvula, tongue and tonsils relaxing during sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation estimates that snoring affects about 90 million American adults, including 37 million on a regular basis.

But snoring may be a sign of a sleep disorder called apnea, where sleepers stop breathing for several seconds at a time. The Foundation estimates more than 18 million American adults have sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea can cause fragmented sleep and low blood oxygen levels, according to the Foundation. For people with sleep apnea, experts say the combination of disturbed sleep and oxygen starvation may lead to hypertension, heart disease and mood and memory problems

Snoring may be the first clue.

“We use it as sign there’s possibly some more serious breathing-related problems,” said physician Hunter Hearn, a sleep medicine specialist with Wichita Clinic. “Snoring should not be ignored.”

Hearn said some of the signs that snoring could be a health problem include consistent, frequent snoring and a host of daytime problems – from daytime sleepiness and fatigue to depression – that may indicate disruptive sleep patterns.

All of those may be a signal to talk to one’s doctor and possibly get evaluated by a sleep specialist.

“This could be happening hundreds of times a night,” Hearn said. “Night after night – that takes a toll on your cardiovascular system over the years. I tell people, it’s not just a cosmetic problem when you’re sleeping, but serious risk to cardiovascular health.”

Doctors say sleep apnea puts a lot of stress on one’s heart. The body secretes hormones, which cause blood pressure to rise and the heart rate to go up. This can lead to problems such as heart attack or stroke. Apnea can exacerbate conditions such as diabetes.

Robb Rose, director of rehabilitation business development for Via Christi Rehab Center, says apnea is an epidemic in America and cites risk factors such as obesity, smoking and alcohol use as contributing elements to this growing health problem. Age also is a risk factor.

“With sleep apnea, you’re not getting enough air in your system, thus not enough oxygen,” Rose said. “That why, with a lot of people, the heart takes a beating, so does the brain, the kidneys. Over a course of time, it builds and builds, then you kind of get the big one.  You’re looking at a cardiologist, endocrinologist, the emergency department or worse.”

Treatments are available to help alleviate disruptive sleep apnea.  These can include devices that help open the airways while sleeping. The standard treatment today is using a CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure device, which uses a mask that gently blows air into the airway to help keep it open during sleep.

Of course, sometimes snoring is just snoring. But the important message, doctors say, is to undergo an exam if people suspect there may be something more serious going on than simple nighttime noise.