Q. What is the proper amount of sleep?
A. The appropriate amount of sleep varies from person to person. For most people, eight hours each night is enough. But for many, six hours is plenty and others may need ten. While your sleep habits may change throughout your life, contrary to popular belief, the amount of sleep you need doesn’t really change. The following are some tips to help you gauge if you are getting enough sleep:

Q. How do I know if I have a sleep disorder?
A. Almost everyone experiences difficulty with sleep at some period in life. Problems can range from snoring to insomnia and can be related to times of stress or anxiety. But, if a sleep disorder persists for more than a week, you should contact The Sleep Center.

Q. If I snore, do I have sleep apnea?
A. No, not necessarily. Simple snoring is caused by a partial obstruction of the upper airways, which may be annoying, but not harmful. However, those with a total obstruction will follow loud snoring with brief periods of silence, which can mean they are not breathing. Very loud, consistent snoring is usually an indication of sleep apnea and should be investigated.

Q. Is sleep apnea dangerous?
A. People with sleep apnea are actually suffering a deprivation of oxygen and therefore, the long-term effects can be dangerous if not treated. Some of the risks of the untreated condition include heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure. In addition, the lack of restful sleep can cause an individual to experience extreme fatigue, which can lead to accidents while on-the-job or driving.

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Q. Are there treatments for sleep apnea?
A. Yes. Some treatments for mild sleep apnea include lifestyle changes such as weight loss or modifications to sleeping positions. There are also a variety of oral devices that can be worn during sleep to help open the air passageway. However, more severe cases are treated with a procedure called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which opens the air passage using, pressurized air blown into the nose through a nose mask device. Facial deformities which cause sleep apnea, such as jaw structure, enlarged tonsils or a large tongue can also cause moderate to severe sleep apnea. There are several surgical treatments that can be employed to correct these conditions. For more information, contact The Sleep Center.

Q. Are there support groups for sleep disorders?
A. Yes. These include:
www.sleepapnea.org (The American Sleep Apnea Association)
www.narcolepsynetwork.org (The Narcolepsy Network)

Q. What causes snoring?
A. Snoring is caused by a narrowing of your air passage, efforts to force air through the narrowed passageway creates snoring. An estimated 10 - 30% of adults snore, and in most cases it has no serious medical consequences. For an estimated 5 to 100 people, however, extremely loud nightly snoring is the first indication they might have obstructive sleep apnea.

Q. How does diet affect my sleep?
A. Caffeine is a brain stimulant that interferes with sleep. It is present in coffee, tea, colas, cocoa, chocolate, and some prescription and nonprescription drugs. Alcohol when ingested at bedtime, may induce sleep, but will disrupt sleep after it has been metabolized. Meals consumed shortly before bedtime can interfere with the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, especially foods that cause stomach upset. Solutions: Avoid caffeine and alcohol 4 to 6 hours before bedtime. Eat a light snack before bedtime, but avoid large heavy meals. Good examples for a light snack are milk and other dairy products consumed with carbohydrates like crackers. Consult your physician regarding your caffeine containing medications and discuss changing the time of day you take them.

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