Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
Sleep apnea is a disorder where your breathing stops and starts throughout the night and people with it are usually loud snorers and they often feel tired even after a full night's rest.
The Canadian Lung Association said about seven per cent of Canadians have it and even more may have symptoms of mild sleep apnea.
“I was just so tired all the time, falling asleep while I was talking on the phone,” Manish Amin said.
Amin tried lifestyle changes, but when those didn’t work, he talked to his doctor about a sleep study.
“An overnight sleep test can detect whether you have obstructive sleep apnea, which is when your breathing pauses during sleep because something blocks your airway, like your tongue or relaxed throat muscles,” Kevin Loria with Consumer Reports said.
Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can cause daytime sleepiness. It can also strain the heart, and increase the risk of anxiety, diabetes, hypertension and even stroke.
The primary treatment for sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure machine or CPAP. Users are fitted with a mask connected to a pump that pushes air into the airway, holding it open while sleeping.
CPAP can significantly reduce the number of breathing interruptions during the night, but patients often have complaints.
“It’s hard dealing with the CPAP, there’s the mask, the hose, there’s definitely some adjustment,” Amin said.
If the full-face mask isn’t for you, you might want to consider a nasal pillow or a nasal mask.
Another alternative are custom-made dental devices.
“They’re designed to move the jaw and shift the tongue toward the front of the mouth to keep the airway open. This can be used with CPAP,” Loria said.
In the United States, there are devices like Inspire that are surgically implanted in the upper chest, like a pacemaker. They stabilize your throat during sleep to prevent obstruction of the airway. With no hose or mask, it might seem more convenient.
Inspire told CTV News Toronto that it's not available in Canada. Amin says it's a step he wouldn't want to take.
“I'd rather learn to get comfortable with the CPAP than go through surgery. It’s important for me to get a handle on this,” Amin said.
It's important to realize that snoring and sleep issues can be serious, but a restful night could start after a good conversation with your doctor.
To reduce symptoms to get a better night's rest, it's advisable to skip alcohol and sleep on your side or stomach. Losing weight can also help because obesity is a primary factor for sleep apnea.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6931052.1718715991!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
DEVELOPING Justin Timberlake arrested and in custody in New York for allegedly driving while intoxicated
Justin Timberlake was arrested last night in Sag Harbor, New York for allegedly driving while intoxicated, a spokesperson for Sag Harbor Police said.
EXCLUSIVE 'They were literally feral': Demands for answers in horrific B.C. case of child neglect
A horrific case of child neglect involving three young children has their extended family in northern B.C. demanding answers.
Extreme heat wave warnings in effect for central, eastern provinces
According to local forecasts, extreme heat wave warnings are in effect for central and eastern Canada, with temperatures feeling as warm as low 40s.
'Do you guys have tickets?': How a nightmare of a road trip turned into Stanley Cup Final front-row seats for father and daughter
A road trip for a father and daughter that began as a nightmare quickly turned into a dream come true for the pair thanks to a couple of generous Oilers fans.
Ottawa couple's loan payments more than double after new company takes over financing
An Ottawa couple is sharing their buyer beware story and the importance of reading the fine print in contracts, following a shocking price hike and interest rate adjustment for their home furnace financing.
Undersea explorers mark a tragic day. Things to know about the Titan disaster anniversary
A year after an experimental submersible imploded en route to the Titanic, unanswered questions linger -- with no immediate answers.
Staples stores begin accepting Amazon returns under new partnership
Canadians can now return their Amazon orders through Staples. The e-commerce giant says the office supply retailer's 298 stores are now equipped to handle Amazon returns.
Sikh activists mark anniversary of B.C. temple leader Nijjar's murder
A Sikh activist marking the anniversary of the killing of British Columbia temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar says the past year has shown they are vindicated in their claims that India targeted separatists overseas.
Stellantis recalling nearly 1.2 million vehicles to fix software glitch that disables rear camera
Stellantis is recalling nearly 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada to fix a software glitch that can disable the rearview cameras.