Q. Can Sleep Apnea be cured?
A. Yes! There are many different treatments and some of them have success rates of 100%. Once you have determined that you do have Sleep Apnea you and your doctor can discuss the various treatments and decide which isthe best for you.
Q. Is a Sleep Study expensive?
A. It probably won’t cost you any money at all. The vast majority of insurance plans cover Sleep Studies as well as recommended treatment.
Q. What happens if I do nothing about my Sleep Apnea?
A. Left untreated, Sleep Apnea tends to progressively worsen and may result in partial or complete disability and death.
Q. Who gets Sleep Apnea?
A. Sleep Apnea afflicts people of all ages and both sexes but it’s most common among middle-aged men. The experts say that more than 20 million Americans are suffering with Sleep Apnea. And the greatest tragedy is that less than 5% of Sleep Apnea sufferers have been diagnosed and treated.
Q. What are the consequences of Sleep Apnea?
A. Apnea patients often suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired functioning, depression, memory and judgment problems. Every year people who fall asleep while driving cause approximately 56,000 crashes per year.
Sleep Apnea can cause high blood pressure and be associated with irregular heartbeat, heart attack and stroke, each a potentially life-threatening condition. Every choking episode produces alarming increases in systemic and pulmonary artery pressure. People who snore regularly are more at risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those who do not. The New England Journal of Medicine found that people who experience apneic events during sleep are up to three times more likely to develop high blood pressure.
Q. What are the signs of sleep apnea?
A. Chronic, loud snoring, gasping or choking episodes during sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Lack of sleep can cause cognitive difficulties, irritability, mood changes, anxiety and/or depression. Another warning sign is early onset of high blood pressure.
Q. When should Sleep Apnea be suspected?
A. Bed partners or family members are often the first to suspect that something is wrong, usually from their heavy snoring and apparent struggle to breathe.
Q. Who snores?
A. 30% of adults snore regularly and up to 50% snore occasionally. Men outsnore women by about 2 to 1, and the risk of snoring increases with age and weight. Allergies, asthma, colds and sinus infections increase the risk, as do smoking, alcohol, sleeping flat on your back and certain medications.
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