Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Fall 2021

8 VITALITY Fall 2021 Do people complain about your snoring? Maybe they compare it to the sound of sawing logs or engines roaring. Joking aside, snoring can be serious—not just annoying. It can be a sign of sleep apnea. That’s a condition where breathing stops temporarily during sleep. Many people have excess fatty tissue at the back of the throat. During sleep, this tissue may relax and block the upper airway, causing breathing to pause and restart. This can go on many times a night, even if you’re not aware of it, and can keep you from enjoying restful sleep. Carrying excess weight can increase your risk for sleep apnea. So, too, can drinking alcohol, smoking and simply getting older. Having a large neck (greater than 17 inches for men and greater than 16 inches for women) is also a risk factor because it suggests the presence of excess tissue around the airway. Besides loud snoring, other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea may include: » Waking up gasping for air during sleep. » Being very sleepy during the day. » Having morning headaches. TREATMENT OPTIONS » ClariFix ® cryotherapy for chronic rhinitis. » SINUVA™ for nasal polyps. » LATERA ® for nasal obstruction. » PROPEL ® sinus stent. » Minimally invasive sinus technique (MIST). » Balloon sinuplasty. » Cosmetic repair for skin cancer surgery. » Thyroid and parathyroid surgery. » Salivary gland surgery. » Eardrum perforation repair, ear tube placement and eustachian tube dilation. » Tonsillectomy. » Botox ® and Juvéderm ® injections. Loud snoring may be a sign of a potentially serious sleep problem Being tired because of sleep apnea can decrease the quality of your life— for instance, by hurting your ability to focus at work. It may even make you prone to car crashes and other accidents. That’s not all. Untreated sleep apnea may increase your chances of having other serious health problems, like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. IT’STREATABLE If you think you might have sleep apnea, tell your primary care provider. For a definitive diagnosis, you may need a sleep study. During the study, your oxygen levels, breathing, and brain and heart activity will be monitored as you sleep. Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; UpToDate » Chronic sinusitis. » Chronic rhinitis. » Nasal polyps. » Sleep apnea and nasal obstruction. » Voice and swallowing issues. » Head/neck cancer. » Tonsillitis. » Environmental allergies. » Facial fractures. » Eardrum perforation. » Thyroid and parathyroid issues. CONDITIONSWE TREAT The snore that roars IFYOU’VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA, ask for a referral to CMH ENT Clinic in Bolivar. Dr. Ericksen is an experienced otolaryngologist who can help you breathe easier. Call 417-328-7000 for more information. CMH ENT Clinic SLEEP CARE