Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Spring 2019

lakeregional.com 5 Philip Mataverde, D.O., MPH P eople complain that your snoring drives them crazy. But it isn’t do- ing you any good either. Loud snoring could signal a poten- tially serious condition called obstruc- tive sleep apnea. “Snoring hap- pens when muscles in the back of the throat relax and the tissues vibrate,” says Lake Regional Sleep Medicine Specialist Philip Mataverde, D.O., MPH. “Sometimes the muscles relax so much that the airway closes completely and breathing temporarily stops. These pauses in breathing can happen mul- tiple times a night and prevent proper rest, even though the person might not wake fully.” Why it’s worth checking Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to daytime fatigue. It’s also been linked to a higher risk for car crashes and work-related accidents, as well as such health problems as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed during a sleep study, which is performed either in a sleep lab or with a portable monitor that you take home. During an in-lab sleep study, a technologist monitors your vital signs, breathing, blood oxygen level and body movements, then applies treatment if indicated. For a home sleep apnea test, you receive instructions on how to use the portable monitor before taking it home. The type of sleep study performed depends on your overall health and insurance. SLEEP SMART Learn more about sleep disorders and sleep studies at lakeregional.com/sleep , or call 573-302-2715 . Could it be sleep apnea? Think you might have a sleep dis- order? Talk to your primary care provider if: You snore loudly  Anyone has observed you chok- ing or gasping during sleep  You wake up with a dry mouth  You often have a headache in the morning  You often feel tired during the day SLEEP Tell your doctor if you think you might have obstructive sleep apnea. It’s the snore you shouldn’t ignore. Lifestyle changes. Lose weight if you’re overweight. Also avoid alcohol and other sedatives. A dental device. Wear an oral appliance that can reposition your jaw and relieve the obstruction that blocks your breathing. CPAP. Use a continuous positive airway pressure machine that keeps your airway open during sleep. Surgery. A surgeon may need to remove the soft tissue constricting the airway. Common signs Treatment options