By: Hollie Hojek
hhojek@kcautv.com
We all know living with someone who snores can be annoying, but there may be something more serious actually taking place. It's called sleep apnea, and there's a device that could help.
You may not be getting that full nights rest you thought you were getting. Some people have a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea and they don't even know it. If you have sleep apnea you may stop breathing repeatedly during your sleep, sometimes hundreds of times.
So what's that mean for you?
Your brain and the rest of your body isn't getting enough oxygen. But there's one obvious way to tell if your spouse has the disorder.
"If you ever observed your spouse sleeping and there's a long pause and then stoppage breathing and then a sudden awakening a gasp of breathing, well then that's a red flag and its time to go see your physician," says Kevin Koch, respiratory therapist at St. Luke's Home Care in Sioux City.
There's currently no cure for the disorder, but there are some treatments including the CPAP. It stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. By wearing this mask while you sleep, it can instantly detect a blockage in your airway and treat it immediately.
"What the CPAP device does is it, it causes a slight amount of pressure, to dilate that tissue back out and to keep the persons natural airflow open," said Koch.
Wearing the device is a life long commitment, but the alternative can be much worse. If left untreated, sleep apnea can significantly increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
If you think you suffer from the disorder, you are urged to contact your physician right away.
