Sleep Disorders

Sleep History Questionnaire

Epworth Sleepiness Questionnaire

Methods of Treatment for Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Snoring is Dangerous to your health!

We have all known snorers: those individuals who, as soon as their heads hit the pillow, sound like buzz saws, a train coming out of a tunnel or a tire that has just been punctured. How about the wife who has spent a lifetime sleeping next to a human bellows or the camping trip where nobody slept, except PopI Snoring has been the butt of many jokes; snoring has also been a source of sharp irritation. For those who have to put up with it, it is a serious threat to household harmony and peace of mind. People have actually been shot because of snoring.

Snoring is an indication of a decreased efficiency in the breathing mechanism. Children who snore are generally less healthy, while adults with this problem may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (interrupted breathing of more than 10 seconds, at least 20 times an hour). These non-breathing spells can be longer and more frequent, as much as 25% of sleep time can be spent not breathing at all. Individuals with this problem may fall asleep during the day, have difficulty concentrating and may suffer from heart-related problems. These people should seek the advice of a "sleep disorder specialist".

Snoring is a symptom of a breathing disease. These irritating sounds come from the vibration of the tissues in the back of the throat prompted by the narrowing of the passageway that carries air through the nose and throat to the lungs. This collapsible portion of the airway is affected by large tonsils, adenoids and weak throat muscles. The airway is also affected by a large tongue, a small upper and lower jaw or jaw development that carries the lower jaw down and back towards the throat. Snoring is aggravated by age, weight, drugs and alcohol.

In the United States, it is estimated that over 40 million people of all ages snore. At least 3 million have sleep-related breathing problems that seriously affect their health. Upper airway obstruction has been implicated in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In young children, obstruction has been associated with abnormal jaw growth, hyperactivity, bed wetting, throat and ear infections. In adults, when the upper airway is obstructed, it produces loud snoring and often, sleep apnea.