Monday, November 28, 2011

Sleep Apnea

My brother, Ed, has done a couple of stories for the Springfield News-Leader on sleep apnea.

The first one is called: Sleep apnea could explain fatigue — Condition has far-reaching consequences for daily life, life span

The second is: Truckers scrutinized for sleep apnea — Sleeping disorder is considered a company liability, driver says.

Both articles are very interesting. I never knew how much of a potential health hazard sleep apnea is. From the first story:

People with sleep apnea may have hundreds of these events through the night. After each apnea, their bodies are thrown from a deeper level of sleep to a shallower one, depriving them of the restorative sleep necessary for effective daily functioning.


And this rather startling consequence of the disorder:

Untreated, sleep apnea raises the risk of major health problems, including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and stroke, Yarnell said. Furthermore, keeping one's airway open at night may extend life span by 10 years, he said, referencing a statement from Stanford University sleep specialist Dr. Nino Marcia.


So if you think you may have sleep apnea get yourself to a doctor so they can start treating it.

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