If You Stopped Breathing in Your Sleep, Wouldn't You Want to Know?

Washington, DC - March 19, 2001

Monday, March 26th is National Sleep Apnea Awareness Day, a day on which Americans should stop to consider whether they have the symptoms of sleep apnea. Very common yet rarely diagnosed, sleep apnea can have serious consequences when left untreated.

"I had no idea that I stopped breathing in my sleep each night," says Dale Snape, chairman of the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA), a non-profit organization dedicated to getting the word out about sleep apnea. "Yet the sleep study showed that I stopped breathing about 300 times during the night. I'm glad I found out I have sleep apnea; the diagnosis led me to a treatment which makes a world of difference."

People who have sleep apnea stop breathing in their sleep as their airway passage is obstructed, usually by tissue in the back of the throat. Each time breathing stops, the brain signals those with sleep apnea to arouse briefly from sleep in order to resume breathing. As a result, sleep is constantly interrupted, leaving untreated apneics extremely tired. People with untreated sleep apnea are typically not aware of the awakenings and don't realize why they are tired.

The consequences of untreated sleep apnea include high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, reflux, nocturia, memory problems, feelings of depression, morning headaches, weight gain, and impotency. Unfortunately, these symptoms are often associated with other medical conditions rather than sleep apnea.

Society may view reflux, for example, as a sign of only gastrointestinal disease. Patients may request an anti-depressant or anti-impotence medication when actually a request for a sleep study is warranted. Nocturia is often associated only with possible prostate problems or diabetes; fatigue may be seen only as a thyroid symptom. In fact, all of these complaints may be due to unrecognized sleep apnea.

"I had high blood pressure for years, which was tough to control even with medication. I had morning headaches almost every day, gained weight, and was up frequently at night to visit the bathroom," says Dave Hargett, coordinator of the Elk Grove Village Illinois A.W.A.K.E. Group, a health awareness group for persons with sleep apnea. "I thought I was just getting old! And I didn't really believe that I snored that much. Was I ever wrong! It turned out that I had severe obstructive sleep apnea. Lucky for me that I was diagnosed over six years ago and am effectively treated. Now I have my life back."

The Snore Score

On Monday, March 26, National Sleep Apnea Awareness Day, the ASAA urges Americans to consider whether they may have sleep apnea by measuring their "Snore Score."

• Are you a loud, habitual snorer?
• Do you feel tired and groggy on awakening?
• Are you often sleepy during waking hours and/or can you fall asleep quickly?
• Are you overweight and/or do you have a large neck?
• Have you been observed to choke, gasp, or hold your breath during sleep?

Anyone who answers "yes" to any of the above questions should discuss their symptoms with their physician or a sleep specialist.

Safwan Badr, MD, President of the ASAA and a sleep specialist, says Americans need to think about sleep apnea: "More than ten million Americans have unrecognized sleep apnea and are not aware of it, yet they suffer the consequences each day--unnecessarily, as sleep apnea can be treated. Different treatment options exist, and, once diagnosed, patients can speak to their doctor about which option is best for them."

The American Sleep Apnea Association is grateful to ResMed Corp and Respironics, Inc. for sponsoring National Sleep Apnea Awareness Day.

For more information contact:

The American Sleep Apnea Association
1424 K Street NW, Suite 302
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 293-3650
Web: www.sleepapnea.org