Don't Stop Snoring, Says Sleep Specialist...Until You Have Ruled Out Any Underlying Sleep Disorder

Roswell, GA - October 10, 2001

People distressed by their heavy snoring should beware of the many cures for snoring on the market -- they may be covering up a signal that they have a serious sleep disorder. According to sleep specialist, Dr. Samuel Mickelson, it is important for snorers to first be screened for obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder which, if left untreated, can lead to stroke and heart disease.

"It is natural for snorers to turn to throat sprays, pills, breathing strips, dental appliances, even surgery, to dampen the noise," says Dr. Mickelson. "But if the result is that they stop snoring but still have sleep apnea, they will be leaving untreated a life-threatening disorder."

Obstructive sleep apnea is as common as diabetes and may affect as many as twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep when throat muscles and tongue relax and block the opening of the airway. Frequent interruptions of deep sleep cause headaches, daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure and increased risk of cardiac arrest, heart attack and stroke.

Yet, says Dr. Mickelson, a majority of apnea sufferers remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated.

A new web site, PutanEndtoSnoring.com, helps snoring sufferers screen themselves for sleep apnea. PutanEndtoSnoring.com's innovative, interactive questionnaire asks about a patient's sleeping and snoring habits, then produces an instant analysis of the patient's snoring type.

Four Snoring Types

The four types of snoring are:

Socially Incorrect: primary snorers with no apparent health issues; snoring is a problem because of the distress it causes their sleeping partners or roommates.
Nose it's a Problem: those whose snoring problems are related to nasal obstruction, for example because of allergies;
Snoring out an SOS: snorers who show signs of sleep apnea but may not know it, because they do not display the clearest symptoms of apnea - waking up choking or gasping for breath;
Not so Silent Killer: snorers with clear indications of apnea, including breathing disruption at night.

The website PutanEndtoSnoring.com suggests snoring remedies most suited for the visitor's snoring type. In the case of Snoring out an SOS, respondents are urged not to address their snoring problem until they have been examined by their physician for sleep apnea.

Dr. Mickelson, an advisor to PutanEndtoSnoring.com, says he recommends that those searching for a snoring cure take the questionnaire on their website and then, if they show symptoms of apnea, consult their physician or sleep specialist. "Any questionnaire is simply a first step," he says, "And can never replace a professional consultation."

About Dr. Samuel Mickelson

Samuel A. Michelson, MD, FACS, a past chair of the Sleep Disorders Committee for the American Academy of Otolaryngology, has a special interest in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of snoring and sleep apnea with experience in a wide variety of advanced surgical procedures. He can be reached at Advanced Ear, Nose and Throat Associates, PC, 960 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30342.

About PutanEndtoSnoring.com

PutanEndtoSnoring.com, a new website created by Freeman Communications, is the Internet's most objective and comprehensive resource for those who snore. PutanEndtoSnoring.com can be found on the Web at www.putanendtosnoring.com and contacted via email at info@putanendtosnoring.com.

Freeman Communications is located at 4629 Clary Lakes Drive, Roswell, GA, 30075, Telephone 770-645-8216.