He barely had enough energy to walk a few steps without getting tired. Dr. Spencer Gilleon performs surgery on a patient with sleep apnea. While many view snoring as an unavoidable fact of life, experts say intense snoring may signal a condition known as sleep apnea. A slew of medical problems, including stroke, high blood pressure and heart attack, are associated with sleep apnea. Doctors say that sufferers should not delay treatment.
Loved ones yearning for uninterrupted sleep are often the primary catalysts for change.
We see many of our patients here because of their spouses. They are usually the ones who insist that the individual with the sleep disorder seek treatment. Apnea puts a strain on heart and lungs Snoring results when soft tissue in the airways relaxes and vibrates during sleep. Of the estimated 10 percent of adults who snore, one in 10 suffers from sleep apnea. Although some women have sleep apnea, studies show men make up the majority of 17 million Americans with moderate to severe apnea.