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Senior Resources » The Hidden Dangers of Sleep Apnea

The Hidden Dangers of Sleep Apnea

snoring man wth sleep apnea

If your spouse is a loud snorer who wakes themself up during sleep, they probably need to be tested for sleep apnea, a dangerous disorder that affects more than 22 million Americans, but often goes undiagnosed. 

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Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person to stop breathing during sleep, hundreds of times during the night, for 10 seconds or more at a time. Left untreated, it can cause extreme daytime sleepiness, as well as a host of serious health conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and dementia. In fact, it’s estimated that every year, around 38,000 Americans die in their sleep from a heart attack or stroke because of sleep apnea.

But the good news is that sleep apnea is very treatable and most insurance companies, including Medicare, cover it. 

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Who Has Sleep Apnea? 

senior with a sleep mask and pillow on a blue background

There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea (or OSA) is by far the most common and occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway. 

While anyone can have it, sleep apnea is most common in people who are overweight, male, middle-aged, and older. For women, the risk increases after menopause. 

The symptoms include loud snoring (however not everyone who snores has apnea), long pauses of breathing, gasping or choking during sleep, and daytime drowsiness. But because most of these symptoms happen during sleep, most people don’t recognize them. It’s usually the person they’re sleeping with who notices it. 

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Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

sleep apnea info graphic

To help you get a handle on your spouse’s problem, the American Sleep Apnea Association has several diagnostic tests he can take at SleepApnea.org/treat – click on “Test Yourself.”

If the screening indicates that your spouse may have sleep apnea, make an appointment with their doctor or a sleep specialist who will probably recommend an overnight diagnostic sleep test called polysomnography, which can take place at a sleep center lab (see SleepEducation.com), or at home using a portable device. 

Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

cpap for sleep apnea

Your spouse is at greater risk for sleep apnea if they’re overweight, smokes, and/or consumes excessive amounts of alcohol. Excess weight, especially around the neck, puts pressure on the airway, which can cause it to collapse. Smoking can increase the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway. And alcohol and sleeping pills can relax the muscles in the back of their throat, interfering with breathing. Addressing these issues, if necessary, is usually the first line of treatment. 

If that doesn’t do the trick, mild cases of sleep apnea may respond to oral devices that fit into the mouth like a removable mouth guard or retainer. These devices work by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward to keep the airway open during sleep. 

Read Next: 10 Healthy Aging Tips For Retirees

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Another noninvasive treatment option to consider is the new FDA-approved eXciteOSA device. This treats sleep apnea and snoring by improving tongue muscle function by delivering electrical stimulation to the tongue through a mouthpiece that’s worn for just 20 minutes during the day.

If none of these options work, the most effective and commonly prescribed treatment for OBA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. This involves sleeping with a snorkel-like mask that’s hooked up to a machine that gently blows air up the nose to keep the passages open. 

Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

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Originally published February 22, 2024

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