Sawing logs? Snoring may reveal serious sleep disorder

At best, snorers and their bed partner may awaken feeling fatigued. At worst, snoring can contribute to serious conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and stroke. Many people don’t even realize they have a sleep disorder. Anyone who snores could be a candidate for a sleep study, says Kristie Dover, coordinator of St. John’s nationally accredited Sleep Disorders Center.

Board-certified sleep disorders specialist and pulmonologist John Brabson, M.D., is the medical director of St. John’s Sleep Disorders Center.

“Snoring can result from a partial obstruction of the airway at the base of the tongue and can often be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea,” Dover says. “If you snore, are tired during the day, or think you may have another sleep disorder, tell your primary care physician. He or she can refer you for a sleep study.”

Sleep apnea and insomnia are the two most common sleep disorders, she says. Bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching) and restless legs syndrome are also diagnosed at St. John’s Sleep Disorders Center.

“People with a sleep disorder think that it’s normal for them to constantly feel tired … they don’t realize that they really don’t have to be tired all the time. After they’re treated and their quality of sleep improves, they can’t believe how much better they feel – and how tired they really were before,” Brabson says.

CPAP – continuous positive airway pressure – is a very effective method to treat obstructive sleep apnea. A CPAP device is a small pump that delivers room air (not oxygen) that is connected to a mask, typically fitting only over your nose. A sleep study determines the exact CPAP pressure (or prescription level) that will keep your airway open during sleep. Snoring and apnea are resolved in nearly all patients. Surgery to reduce throat tissue can also be an option, in some instances.

“There are many, many models of CPAPs and nasal interfaces on the market, so the patient can choose which one he or she finds most comfortable,” Dover says.

Insomnia is most often caused by a difficulty initiating sleep or maintaining sleep. Difficulty initiating sleep may be caused in part from a poor sleep schedule or poor sleep hygiene and/or anxiety. Difficulty maintaining sleep may be partially caused by chronic pain.

“We often refer patients to the St. John’s Pain Management Center if we determine pain is the reason for their insomnia,” Dover says. “If you have trouble turning your mind off when you go to bed, here are a few ways to combat insomnia. You could keep a journal or a to-do list for the next day when thoughts or problems occur to you. This may allow you to solve problems during the day instead of the night. Reading, watching TV, or working puzzles as well as turning the alarm clock away from your bed so you can’t see what time it is may be helpful,” Dover says.

St. John’s is building a new Sleep Disorders Center. The new center, which will open later this year, will include 10 dedicated sleep rooms, each with their own bathroom, and a new Sleep Lab.

“We should spend a third of our lives sleeping,” Dover says. “A sleep disorder is something to be taken very seriously. Treating your sleep disorder can help you live a healthier and longer life.”