Stop the Snore: Get Help for Sleep Apnea

The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project urges you to be aware of snoring, which is a warning sign for obstructive sleep apnea. Afflicting nearly 30 million adults in the U.S., sleep apnea is a chronic disease that is destructive to your health. You can “Stop the Snore” in a variety of ways. Talk to a medical provider about your risk for sleep apnea. Encourage your bed partner to talk to a doctor about snoring. Join us in spreading the word about the warning signs for sleep apnea.

Should you talk to a medical provider about sleep apnea?

Here are five warning signs for sleep apnea:

Snoring: Besides being a nuisance to your bed partner or roommate, loud and frequent snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea. While not everyone who snores has this sleep illness, snoring is a warning sign that should be taken seriously.

Choking or gasping during sleep. When snoring is paired with choking, gasping or silent breathing pauses during sleep, it’s a strong indicator of sleep apnea.

Fatigue or daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea can leave you waking in the morning feeling tired, even after a full night’s sleep.

Obesity. An adult with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher is considered to be obese, and the risk of sleep apnea increases with the amount of excess body weight.

High blood pressure. Between 30 and 40 percent of adults with high blood pressure also have sleep apnea, and getting treatment for sleep apnea is a proven means of decreasing blood pressure.

Where do you go for help? 

Find an accredited sleep center near you

Research shows that the number of sleep apnea sufferers continues to increase – sleep apnea afflicts nearly 30 million American adults, and most of them remain untreated, increasing their risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Fortunately, many of the damaging effects of OSA can be stopped, and even reversed, through diagnosis and treatment by the sleep team at an accredited sleep center.