Sleep Apnea
Q: I’ve noticed that my husband will gasp for air and snort when he sleeps. He also snores very loudly. Is this something we should be worried about?
Affinity's medical expert is Dr. Todd Meyer, an ear, nose and throat specialist for Affinity Health System.
A: Snoring and gasping for air during sleep are two classic signs of sleep apnea, a condition where a person will stop breathing during sleep.
When we sleep, the muscles in our throat relax but leave enough space for air to flow through to our lungs. Some people have a narrower air passage and when they sleep, the relaxed muscles will block air flow.
During deep sleep, breathing may stop for a period of time. In some cases, it can be as long as 10 seconds. This period of lack of breathing, called an apnea, results in a sudden attempt to breathe. This would explain the gasping your husband is demonstrating. Apnea leads to restless sleep, and many sufferers complain of daytime drowsiness.
Excess weight and nasal obstructions such as a large tongue, a narrow airway and certain shapes of the palate and jaw seem also to increase the risk. A large neck or collar size is strongly associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Ingestion of alcohol or sedatives before sleep may predispose to episodes of apnea.
People who suffer from sleep apnea often don’t remember gasping for air or snoring during their sleep. Most commonly, family members, especially spouses, point out the symptoms and urge the sufferer to get medical attention. In addition to snoring, family members may notice:
• abnormal daytime sleepiness, including falling asleep at inappropriate times
• morning headaches
• recent weight gain
• limited attention
• memory loss
• poor judgment
• personality changes
• lethargy
People suffering from these symptoms need to be examined by a physician. The doctor will take a detailed medical history and ask questions about sleep habits and sleep quality. A physical exam of the head, neck and throat may be done along with an echocardiogram, an arterial blood gas test, a thyroid test and a sleep study.
For mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, a breathing device, called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be needed. CPAP uses a breathing mask to stabilize the pressure in the air passage allowing air to flow freely to the lungs. In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove airway obstructions. For children who suffer from sleep apnea, the tonsils and adenoids are removed.
If left untreated, sleep apnea could lead to hypertension, right-side heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm, stroke, heart disease and increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Sleep apnea is a treatable condition, but the first step your husband should make is to see his doctor.
