Do you wake up each morning with a headache, feeling tired or lethargic? Do you experience excessive daytime sleepiness? Do you snore loudly at night, or wake up repeatedly gasping for breath? If so, you may be suffering from a condition known as Sleep Apnea.

The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide (HMSFHG) defines Sleep Apnea as “a potentially life threatening condition in which breathing stops hundreds of times each night.” Essentially, as you prepare for sleep, your body begins to relax. The stiff muscles that hold the throat open also narrow to the point of near closure or complete closure. A common sign of this narrowing of the airway is snoring. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) states, “snoring indicates that your airway is not fully open, and the distinctive sound of snoring comes from the efforts to force air through the narrowed passageway.” Not only can this cause labored breathing, but at times your breathing actually stops. After a short time, the brain registers the decrease in oxygen and you briefly awaken to stiffen the muscles of the throat and restore the breathing passageway. However, as the body relaxes, the cycle begins over again, and the process may continue throughout the night. This is formally known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). There is a second type of Sleep Apnea defined as Central Sleep Apnea. Central Sleep Apnea occurs when a particular part of the brain fails to send the necessary messages to the muscles that control the automatic breathing of sleep. Sleep Apnea can affect both sexes, and all ages; however it is more prominent in overweight males. Not only is sleep disturbed, but with time, the effects of Sleep Apnea put the body at risk for high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke.

The most common and effective treatment for Sleep Apnea is CPAP, also known as “continuous positive airway pressure.” CPAP comes in the form of a small mask that is worn at night over the nose. Pressure from an air compressor directs air continuously through the nose, down the throat, and into the lungs. The AASM has shown that ”60% to 70% of patients who try CPAP find it a good solution for the Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” Some individuals who have tired CPAP as a treatment but have experienced problems should work with the sleep specialist to rectify the complaint, or find a solution that is more tolerable for them.

“For every 20 Americans with a sleep disorder, only one seeks and gets professional help” (HMSFHG, p.386). There are medical professionals available in your area who specialize in sleeping disorders and can diagnose your condition after obtaining a personal history, examination, and if indicated, a polysomnogram. If you feel you could have a sleep disorder, please visit your healthcare provider, or search for a board certified sleep specialist near you by visiting the American Board of Sleep Medicine website. Please reference the following address in your search: http://www.absm.org/Diplomates/listing.htm.

Note From The Editor: Diabetics 4 Diabetics was proud to list Dr. Gross as the first Physician ever to be placed in our Physician of the Month and our Physician Hall of Fame. He is a board certified sleep specialist and the one D4D Medical Center refers all our patients to with that disorder. Not only is he very capable and qualified, he actually cares about patient complaints and needs. We are proud to be associated with him and his staff and would recommend his practice to all the public, not only diabetics. You can contact him at Scottsdale Sleep Disorders, 10250 N. 92nd Street, Suite 206, Scottsdale, AZ. 85258. Or call his office at: 480.614.0588.



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