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Sleep Disorders

The Snoring Sickness: Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

Summary & Participants

Everyone knows snoring is a big problem--for the other person in bed. But in some cases, snoring is a sign of something more serious, a condition called sleep apnea. What is sleep apnea? If you snore, should you be worried? Join our panel as they discuss this disorder as well as treatments that can help bring silence to the bedroom.

Medically Reviewed On: July 10, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Welcome to our webcast. I'm David Folk Thomas.

We all know that snoring can be a big problem for the other person in the bed. But in some cases, snoring is a sign of something more serious, a condition called sleep apnea. Now what is sleep apnea and, if you snore, should you be worried?

Well, here to discuss sleep apnea and how to treat it are two experts. On my left is Dr. Daniel Wagner. He's the medical director of the Sleep-Wake Disorder Center at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. And also Dr. Shelley Zak. She's an attending physician at the Sleep-Wake Disorder Center at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Wagner, Dr. Zak, thanks for joining me here today. Dr. Wagner -- well, let me start with you -- what exactly is sleep apnea?

DANIEL WAGNER, MD: "Apnea" means "without breath." And sleep apnea is a type of without breath that occurs only during sleep. The great, great majority of cases are what are obstructive sleep apnea, and in that form of the condition, the throat -- back behind your tongue -- literally get sucked closed by the chest as it's trying to pull air through it. And that's because the muscles of the throat have relaxed enough when you're asleep to allow that to happen. They would never let it happen while you're awake. You'd choke and you'd know it immediately.

That goes on for ten, twenty, thirty, sometimes sixty seconds. And the efforts of the chest finally wake the person up briefly, usually without their knowing it. And they breath a few times. Get their oxygen levels back up, and then as they fall back into light sleep, the whole business may happen again. And so that's what sleep apnea is.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: And, Dr. Zak, this does not sound like it's a very healthy scenario.

SHELLEY ZAK, MD: Not at all. There are very good data that show an association of sleep apnea with high blood pressure, heart attacks and also, probably, stroke. It really is an important medical problem. And the person can go on for a long time not worrying about. Eh, they feel a little sleepy, they're not refreshed in the morning. The reality is this has serious public-health ramifications. And, if nothing else -- let's just forget the heart attack and stroke issue -- you're not refreshed. Because what happens, as Dr. Wagner mentioned, is that one gets into this vicious cycle. Get drowsy, you have this obstruction, and then an arousal. Drowsy, obstruct, arouse. Drowsy, obstruct, arouse. And so the sleep is extremely broken up, unrefreshing, and, if nothing else, the potential for a car accident or anyone who operates heavy machinery, is quite high. And perhaps even at that level, is our greatest sense of problem.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: And Dr. Wagner, how do you know if you have sleep apnea? I mean, nobody ever snores, right? Because, they don't hear it themselves?

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