Does Your Mate Snore so Loud You Must Sleep in Another Room?

There's nothing funny about snoring. Snoring is a classic symptom of a potentially fatal medical condition. Not every snorer has this condition, but amongst people who do, every one of them is a major snorer. So if your mate snores, don't just move to another room in the house. Get him - or her - to a doctor immediately. Though most victims are men, some can be women.

The disorder is sleep apnea, which afflicts 18 million Americans. Some don't even know they have it, but they DO know something is very wrong with their bodies. Sometimes they attribute their problems with weight gain, or not being young anymore.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Facts

· OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) is as prevalent as adult diabetes and asthma.

· About 75 to 90 percent of all cases of OSA remain undiagnosed.

· The consequences of OSA range from disruptive to life-threatening. Life-threatening consequences include congestive heart failure, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, cardiovascular disease and fatal car accidents (due to feeble alertness, drowsiness, even falling asleep at the wheel).

OSA sufferers are three times more likely to have automobile accidents

than non-sufferers.

· The recognized symptoms of OSA include: loud snoring, nocturnal gasping and choking during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness despite taking naps, morning headaches, memory or learning problems, irritability, and lack of concentration.

· Risk factors: loud snoring, being 20 to 30 pounds or more overweight, high blood pressure, having a crowded posterior airway, congestion caused by hay fever and other allergies, a short, thick neck (a la George Constanza on "Seinfeld"), or a family history of sleep apnea. OSA is more common in men, and most patients are overweight.

During an average night's sleep, an OSA sufferer may experience 60 apneas (episodes of stopped breathing) an hour. People with severe OSA have been known to stop breathing more than 120 times per hour. OSA occurs when tissue in the upper airways blocks the breathing passages. The disruption of sleep usually lasts only a few seconds. However, these brief arousals disrupt continuous sleep and prevent OSA sufferers from reaching the deep stages of slumber. Once breathing is restored, OSA sufferers fall asleep only to repeat the cycle throughout the night. Diagnosis of OSA is almost always made by a sleep specialist after a patient undergoes a sleep study.

The most common treatment is a device called CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). This isn't a cure and the patient must always wear the mask during sleep. A weight loss of even 10 percent can significantly reduce sleep apnea. Sleeping on one's side rather than back can reduce symptoms. Avoiding sedatives and alcohol can also help. Surgery is used for some patients.