Ignoring Snoring: A Dangerous Truce

One result is that, however much the person with sleep apnea spends asleep--often much more than normal--there is no sense of being well-rested. Instead, the person wakes up groggy, often with a headache, and suffers persistent daytime sleepiness, often resulting in long yet unrestful naps.

This constant sleepiness impairs functioning in all situations--at work, at home, in social settings, and even driving. It leads to an increased risk of accidents. It impairs memory and concentration. It leads to depression, irritability and mood swings.

Add this to the more medical complications of sleep apnea: strokes and heart attacks, in particular.

This is why it is dangerous to learn to "live with" snoring. Often it is the bed partner who is most aware of this major clue to other symptoms.

Once the suspicion of sleep apnea has been raised, it is equally dangerous to ignore the warning--dangerous not only to the person afflicted but to those who must share the road with half-asleep drivers.

The suspicion of sleep apnea, often raised by snoring, and supported by the other symptoms described, should lead to consultation with a board-certified sleep medicine specialist. This specialist will, in all likelihood, order the painless all-night sleep study, now paid for by virtually all insurance plans, which decisively makes or rules out the diagnosis.

If a person has sleep apnea, there is very effective treatment, both medical and surgical. In the final analysis, this potential for benefit makes the pursuit of this annoying snoring not only important, but potentially life-saving.

For further information on sleep apnea, see my own website, "A Doctor with Sleep Apnea Reviews Recent Research for Fellow Patients" (http://www.geocities.com/klwhitemd/index... or any of numerous others, such as the National Sleep Foundation (http://www.sleepfoundation.org), SleepNet (http://www.sleepnet.com), or KnowSleep (http://www.knowsleep.com). You may also contact the author with questions about sleep apnea (mailto:kleonwhitemd@mindspring.com).

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