Better sleep hygiene is important, but if you have sleep apnea, getting treated is more important.
There is a good FREE app on the iphone done by a teacher/mentor of mine called "Best Sleep Hygiene".
This guy has forgotten more about sleep that I'll probably ever be able to learn.
He is one of the gurus in Dental Sleep Medicine.
No one dies in their sleep "naturally".
Sleep apnea puts an amazing strain on your cardiovascular system.
It can also cause significant oxygen deprivation.
To give you an idea, my son in law was going as long as two minutes (witnessed) without breathing.
His O2 levels were dropping below 68% at night.
If you go into the hospital with an Oxygen level below 68%, they might sliding a tube down your throat and having a machine breath for you.
Those are not good things.
OK, so you have several of the signs and symptoms. Snoring is a biggie.
Here are a few others to consider.
Have you ever awakened gasping for air?
Has you wife ever noticed you gasping while sleeping or has she noticed you not breathing for a while?
Do you have to get up one or more times while sleeping to go to the bathroom?
Is there any history of Sleep Apnea in your family?
Do you have High Blood Pressure?
What is your Neck size?
What is your BMI?
Do you have night sweats?
Do you have your tonsils?
Here is a short screening test called the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
Answer each question very honestly and then have your wife answer them about you.
You'll be surprised at the difference.
Don't answer them by saying "yeah, well of course that happens, I'm on shift work." That isn't the point.
After you answer the questions, add up the numbers.
A score of 10 or more means you probably should have a Sleep Study.
Either a study in the sleep lab (PSG) or what is called an OCST (Out of Center Sleep Test) that is done at home.
Don't take this lightly. I'm not trying to give medical advice or a diagnosis over the Internet, but you have signs and symptoms of a problem.
If the problem is present, get it treated.
A lot of people who haven't treated the problem are dead or disabled (strokes, heart attacks)
You are in OKC? There are some very qualified docs up there. If you are diagnosed and a CPAP isn't your cup of tea, consider a dental appliance.
A word of caution if you decide on the Oral Appliance. There are a lot of DDSs who really don't know what they are doing with these.
It isn't as easy as some make it sound.
One of the best in the OKC area is Robert Talley in Norman.
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
How Sleepy Are You?
How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations, in contrast to just feeling tired?
This refers to daily life in recent times, if these things have not occurred recently, try to work out how they would have affected you.
Apply the most appropriate number for each situation
0--No chance of dozing
1--Slight chance of dozing
2--Moderate chance of dozing
3--High chance of dozing
1. Sitting and Reading
2. Watching TV
3. Sitting inactive in a public place (i.e. a theater or a meeting)
4. As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
5. Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
6. Sitting and talking to someone
7. Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol
8. In a car, while stopping for a few minutes in traffic
Hope this helps.
Dave
). My problem wasn't sleep apnea, it was exhaustion. If you are burning the candle at both ends (and you could very well be if you are not sleeping well because of pain issues), you need to get that resolved. A number that high is dangerous to your long-term health. Probably your short-term health, too. How's your gout? Are you still hurting bad??
