Sleep Disorders Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea - Taking Your Breath Away

Summary & Participants

Eric's snoring had become more than a joke. It was the symptom of a sleep disorder was affecting almost every part of his life.

Medically Reviewed On: August 04, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: Eric’s snoring had become more than a joke.

ERIC: More nights than not, I was not sleeping in my bed. I would sleep on the couch just so that my wife could get a good night's sleep.

ANNOUNCER: A sleep disorder was affecting almost every part of his life.

ERIC: I was tired all the time. I mean -- and to the point that, at work, there would be times where I'm sitting at my desk and just like close my eyes for a few minutes and just feel myself nodding off during the day. I used to get headaches constantly.

ANNOUNCER: Eric has obstructive sleep apnea, which means his breathing stops for 10 or 20 seconds – hundreds of times a night.

JOSE S LOREDO, MD, MS: There is a partial obstruction or collapse of the throat, the structures of the upper airway. This condition is associated with loud snoring, pauses in breathing and gasps for breath and choking sensations the patients makes when they're sleeping.

ANNOUNCER: Obstructive sleep apnea affects more than 12 million Americans, though most aren’t aware they have it. Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of several life threatening diseases.

JOSE S LOREDO, MD, MS: We have found connections between heart disease and sleep apnea, diabetes and sleep apnea, abnormalities of the muscles and nerves.

ANNOUNCER: The good news is that mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea can often be treated with changes in behavior. Doctors urge patients to: Avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs that makes them sleepy. All of these make it harder for the throat to stay open. Lose weight if they are overweight. Sleep on their side instead of their back.

ANNOUNCER: For more severe cases like Eric’s – the most effective treatment is a pump attached to a mask which forces air into the throat, keeping it open. The device – called a CPAP – has made all the difference in the world for Eric.

ERIC: I became much more active. I --actually -- to be honest, I did a better job at work. The best change was just to be able to sleep in my own bed every night.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily!