Snoring, a thick neck? 9 warning signs of sleep apnea

Reporter Chen Junkai/Taipei Report

　　Do you snore frequently or have a thick neck? Get checked to see if you're at high risk for sleep apnea!The Sleep Center of Taipei City Hospital Yangming Branch has compiled a list of...Frequent snoring, daytime fatigue, observed sleep apnea, high blood pressure, obesity, over 50 years old, thick neck, receding chin, male.Nine major warning signs, including "...", should be observed if all of them are present.3 or moreIf you have this condition, you are very likely to have sleep apnea and should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Dr. Chang Hsin-ping, director of the Sleep Center at Taipei City Hospital Yangming Branch, reminded today (7th) that snoring, and even the phenomenon of interrupted breathing during sleep, is a problem for many modern people. Snoring may only disturb the person next to you, but if it develops into sleep apnea, the health risks are very high.

Snoring is a sign of narrowing of the airway during sleep. It is often caused by nasal congestion, enlargement of the soft palate and tonsils, or a large tongue base and a receding chin. Zhang Xinping said that in severe cases, airway obstruction will occur repeatedly during sleep. The most obvious sign is that the snoring stops for more than ten seconds, and then the person struggles to start breathing again. This is called sleep apnea. It is more common in men or postmenopausal women and is often associated with being overweight.

Zhang Xinping warned,Sleep apnea is equivalent to frequent airway obstruction and hypoxia during sleep. In addition to affecting sleep quality due to being startled awake and causing daytime sleepiness, it may also cause changes in cardiopulmonary function and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension in the long run.

Clinical observations have shown that many patients with sleep apnea, even when their symptoms are severe, are unaware that their poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and difficulty controlling high blood pressure are actually related to sleep apnea. Ironically, it is their partners who first notice something is wrong.

Zhang Xinping said,If you exhibit three or more of these nine symptoms simultaneously, you are highly likely to have sleep apnea and are advised to undergo a sleep apnea examination.Treatment will be based on the severity of sleep apnea and the location of airway obstruction. Generally speaking, patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea should receive active treatment regardless of whether they have any symptoms.

News Source:Yahoo! News