SLEEP APNEA: Getting a Good Night's Sleep
by Erica Pauly
Imagine sleeping through the night, only to wake up every morning as if you’ve just finished playing a two hour game of football. This is the case for 1 in 20 Americans, says Mark Neagle, M.D., of Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants, P.C.
“We cannot diagnose sleep apnea just based on symptoms alone. However, this is a manageable disorder, not a preventable one.” Mark Neagle, M.D., Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants, P.C.
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What is Sleep Apnea?
“Really, it is easier described as sleep disordered breathing,” says Dr. Neagle. Sleep disordered breathing can be caused by a blockage of the airway or a problem of patterned breathing.
Sleep disordered breathing, or sleep apnea, includes snoring, frequent awakenings, or momentarily stopped breathing for periods throughout the night. Many people who suffer from disordered breathing do not notice their actions. It is often the family member or sleep partner who hears the problem throughout the night and who is concerned about their loved one’s sleep patterns. Once the individual does regain breath, they usually recover with a loud snort or choking noise, according to both Dr. Neagle and the U.S. Department of Health and Human services.
Dr. Neagle notes, “We cannot diagnose sleep apnea just based on symptoms alone. Sometimes people just snore, which doesn’t mean they have a sleep disordered breathing case. Others snore and it is apparent during a sleep study that they have sleep apnea.”
Individuals suffering from sleep apnea will generally be sleepy all day, due to the lack of ‘deep’ sleep throughout the night. Other symptoms include inability to concentrate throughout the day, constant fatigue, memory loss, and even depression. Dr. Neagle notes, “Sometimes people say, ‘No, I don’t have a problem sleeping, I can sleep all day,’ but I have to remind them that they are so tired because they never receive the deep sleep needed for a good night’s rest.”
Who suffers from it?
Current estimates are that 1 in 20 Americans suffer from sleep apnea, although there can be a wide variety in forms of sleep disordered breathing.
Though the poster child for sleep apnea is an obese middle-aged male, Dr. Neagle reminds us that this is not always the case, “Yes, obesity does increase the chance of sleep apnea, but so does living at higher altitudes as well as advancing age.” We live at a higher altitude, and Fort Collins is known for its outstanding retirement communities, so it is not a surprise that Dr. Neagle treats patients from 14 years old to patients in their 90s.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, women are less likely to suffer from sleep apnea. However, Dr. Neagle sees both males and females for sleep disordered breathing.
How is it treated?
Sleep disordered breathing can be treated several different ways. However, “this is a manageable disorder, not a preventable one.” In order to treat a patient effectively, Dr. Neagle and his staff ask the patient to take part in a sleep study. Seventy-five percent of the sleep study patients need only stay one night at the Sleep Disorders Center located near Poudre Valley Hospital.
For the study, the patient has wires glued to his or her head and a band around their chest and abdomen. While it may look a bit Frankenstein-like, Dr. Neagle says that if the patient must get up to use the restroom, there is only one small piece they must unplug. “It is not like you have to unhook yourself from some scary contraption, you just un-plug from one spot and go on your way.”
“We can usually make this a split-night test on most of our patients,” says Dr. Neagle. A split-night test occurs when the patient shows signs of sleep apnea within a few hours. When this occurs, the staff wakes the patient and begins treating the sleep apnea in hopes to pinpoint and resolve the sleep disorder in the same night.
If a split-night test cannot be achieved, the patient is asked to return for a second night, when the treatment would take place.
The most common method of treatment is the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. The machine consists of a mask fitted over the nose and/or mouth of the individual. Air is administered through the mask and into the airway in order to prevent blockage and to maintain an open airway throughout the night. The CPAP machine is the most commonly used and most researched treatment method. According to Dr. Neagle, 80 to 90 percent of his patients use the CPAP machine. What about the other 10 to 20 percent of patients? “There are other options such as devices made by dentists in the community, surgical procedures, and medication if a patient prefers a different avenue other than the CPAP machine,” says Dr. Neagle.
Recent commercials advertising mouthpieces or nose adhesives will help with snoring, says Dr. Neagle, but the spokespeople of these companies make it very clear that the mouthpieces and adhesives are made only to prevent snoring, not sleep disordered breathing.
Additional Treatment Methods
Dr. Neagle suggests that most of his patients work alongside nutritionists and other doctors to get weight down, if necessary. “We partner with the patient to get them to a healthy place, not just in their sleep patterns, but their overall health.”
There are a few recommendations for lifestyle changes that will help those with mild sleep apnea. These are found at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Website, www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Enter “Sleep Apnea” into the search tool.
Responsibility of Loved Ones
If you do not suffer from sleep apnea, but someone you care about does, the best thing to do is to encourage your loved one to receive medical help from a professional. There are not many options as a spectator to help someone with these conditions, but a medical professional is trained and has the resources to improve the quality of your sleep as well as that of your sleep disordered breathing partner.
Northern Colorado Pulmonary Consultants is located at 2121 East Harmony Road, Suite 300, in Fort Collins. They can be reached at (970) 224-9102 to schedule an appointment to discuss healthy options for sleep disorders.
Results
“I love treating those who are initially skeptical of finding a treatment option,” says Dr. Neagle with a smile. He continues, “They are the ones who always come back impressed that something actually works and can help them.”
The positive results come from the positive outlook of Dr. Neagle himself. From the initial meeting between him and his patient, Dr. Neagle informs them of his three goals: First, to help them find a way to sleep better and feel better. Second, to reduce the risk of heart attacks or any other serious health risks. And third, help others living with the patient so that, ultimately, sleep is improved for everyone. “I’ve been surprised in the past when it’s the spouses, partners, and family sending me flowers saying ‘Thank you! I can sleep again!’” +
Lifestyle Changes To Improve Sleep
- Avoid alcohol and medicines that make you sleepy. They make it harder for your throat to stay open while you sleep.
- Lose weight if you're overweight or obese. Even a little weight loss can improve your symptoms.
- Sleep on your side instead of your back to help keep your throat open. You can sleep with special pillows or shirts that prevent you from sleeping on your back.
- Keep your nasal passages open at night with nose sprays or allergy medicines, if needed. Talk to your doctor about whether these treatments might help you.
- Stop smoking.
Erica Pauly is a freelance writer living in Loveland with her husband, Brent.