Common questions to ask yourself are:

-- Do you snore?

-- Do you ever fall asleep easily and/or sometimes  inappropriately?

-- Do you feel tired or groggy on awakening?

-- Do you have morning headaches?

-- Have I been told that I stop breathing at night?

-- Do I constantly wake up at night turning side to side


Sleep Apnea is a treatable condition when a person stops breathing for 10 or
more seconds.  It is often caused by soft tissue at the back of the throat, tonsils,
nasal polyps or a deviated septum which obstructs the flow of air.

The brain responds to this by constantly waking you up during the night,
preventing restful restorative sleep.  However, years of  apneic episodes may
cause high blood pressure, heart problems, strokes, behavioral problems, and
job or driving accidents.



What do I do?

Consult with your doctor to undergo a sleep study to find your underlying cause.
It may be as simple as losing weight, to a more in depth treatment using a
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device to hold open your airway at
night.

If you suspect you or your loved ones has this condition, please see your doctor
as soon as possible, especially before undergoing anesthesia or surgery.  We
have had patients thank us enthusiastically after they received sleep apnea
treatment, saying that they have "gotten their life and energy back again!"


Please visit again as the AnesthesiaRisk team prepares the Sleep Apnea
Assessment.

Sleep Apnea:

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Sleep Apnea