Sleep Apnea
In The News
Snoring Warning
Sign For Higher
Stroke Risk - Sleep
Apnea More Than
Doubles Risk for
Ischemic Stroke -
Spanish Study
Determines Risk
Factor
- August
2006
Researchers in Spain
say that snoring is a
symptom of Sleep
Apnea and can be a
warning sign for
patients at a higher
risk for ischemic
stroke (blockage
preventing blood from
reaching a portion of
the brain). This
study involved 394
elderly participants
between 70 and 100
years of age.
All the participants
lived in Vitoria, a
small town in
northern Spain. The
researchers measured
their height, weight,
body mass index, neck
circumference and
medications for
hypertension,
diabetes and
cholesterol. All of
the patients were
then given a sleep
study. The sleep
studies were used to
determine who had
sleep apnea and who
did not.
Sleep apnea is a
condition where
sleepers stop
breathing during the
night. The vast
majority of people
with the condition do
not realize they have
it because it occurs
when they are asleep.
The more common form
of apnea is
Obstructive Sleep
Apnea (OSA). This is
characterized by a
pause in breathing
due to a relaxation
and narrowing of the
throat. Snoring and
wheezing are symptoms
of OSA.
If you are sleeping
with someone that is
snoring, listen for
breaks in their
breathing. This will
happen in the pauses
between snores. The
sleeper does not
realize this, but he
is actually awakened
slightly in an effort
to catch his or her
breath (men usually
suffer from OSA). The
condition may also
cause daytime
drowsiness.
Previous studies have
shown that blood
pressure will rise
and fall during these
episodes. The only
way to truly diagnose
the condition is to
have a sleep study
done. These are
typically done by
cardiopulmonary
specialists. Treating
sleep apnea with a
Constant Positive Air
Pressure (CPAP)
machine has also been
shown to lower the
risk for heart
failure.
After six years of
study there were 20
ischemic strokes.
People who suffered a
stroke were more
likely to be male and
have the more severe
sleep apnea. The
Spanish researchers
found that patients
with severe sleep
apnea were
two-and-a-half times
more likely to suffer
a stroke compared to
people who did not
suffer from apnea, or
those who had a mild
to moderate sleep
apnea.
"This study provides
more evidence that
severe sleep apnea
represents an
independent risk
factor for stroke in
the elderly
population," said
Roberto Muñoz, M.D.,
lead author of the
study. He added
"Sleep apnea is two
to three times more
common in the elderly
compared to
middle-aged people.
However, typical
symptoms of sleep
apnea, such as loud
snoring or excessive
daytime sleepiness,
are less prevalent in
the elderly compared
to middle-aged
people. We should be
aware of these
symptoms, and
specifically look for
the presence of
repetitive breathing
pauses in our
patients and
relatives”. Muñoz is
a neurologist at the
Hospital de Navarra
in Pamplona, Spain.
"Snoring is the most
important warning
sign for sleep
apnea," Muñoz said.
"People who live
alone, which is
common in the
elderly, should be
aware that excessive
daytime sleepiness is
another key risk
factor."
Researchers suggest
apnea treatment be
started if doctors
find a high rate of
episodes of decreased
breathing or
breathing
interruption,
particularly in
patients with other
cardiovascular risk
factors. The research
appears in Stroke:
Journal of the
American Heart
Association.
If you
think you or a
loved one may
have
symptoms of a
sleep disorder,
please
contact us
today.
Help
is available!
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