Mahaska Health Partnership Highlights Sleep Apnea
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – Loud, persistent snoring punctuated by pauses in breath and gasping could be a sign that you have sleep apnea, warns Mahaska Health Partnership Sleep Technologist Kai Schwab.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, snoring may be more than just an annoying habit. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which people have breathing pauses or shallow breathing while they sleep. This causes poor quality of sleep and can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.
“If sleep apnea is left untreated, a person can quit breathing several times during their sleep,” stressed Schwab. “This means that the brain and the rest of the body may not get enough oxygen.”
There are two different types of sleep apnea; Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Central sleep apnea. OSA is the most common and is caused by a blockage in the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. Central sleep apnea is caused by the brain failing to signal muscles to breathe.
“Sleep apnea can be treated in a variety of ways depending on the type of sleep apnea and the severity,” said Schwab. “This can include lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices or surgery in severe cases where no other option is available.”
Sleep apnea can occur in both men and women, but men are more likely to have the condition until women reach menopause. Half of the people with OSA are overweight and the same amount also have high blood pressure. One of the simplest risk factors to evaluate is neck circumference. For males, a neck larger than 17 inches, or females, a neck larger than 16 inches, is an indicator of sleep apnea. Although the condition can occur at any age, the risk increases with age and family history.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641-672-3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
