Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter

December 1, 2006               

 Issue Vol. 6 No. 12

 In This Newsletter

Introduction

Healthfully yours

Health Hints

 Introduction***

 The Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter is written monthly, solely for information to help seniors, baby boomers and anyone who may have an interest in staying healthy, living a vigorous, active lifestyle and combating the aging process. It does not constitute the practice of medicine and is not meant to prescribe treatments. It is offered strictly as an educational aid. Any medical problems you may have, we recommend that you seek the help of your physician or other healthcare professional. Discussing your intentions with your doctor is always the proper procedure. The newsletter also includes know-how in the form of useful tips and links to more extensive material on the Internet. You may wish to share this newsletter by sending a copy to a friend, neighbor or relative and suggesting they subscribe to it.

This newsletter is scanned for viruses and is virus-free before it is sent to recipients!

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Healthfully Yours***

 Sleep Disorder…

 There are a great many types of sleep disorders. There are literally millions of people who have a sleep disorder called “Sleep Apnea” and are completely unaware that they are affected with it. This newsletter will concentrate on this literally unknown type of sleep disorder. Although it is difficult to determine the number of people affected, a good estimate would be approximately 12 to 15 million, and there can be as many that goes undiagnosed. African Americans and Hispanics can be prone to sleep apnea in greater numbers then will the rest of the population. Children too, can be affected, especially if they snore.

 Airway obstruction is one of the most frequent causes-or can be caused from a brainstem failure due to neurological causes. When muscles in the throat fail to relax, there will be a decrease in the air intake and this can cause respiratory failure resulting in frequent awakenings. The dangers of not addressing sleep apnea are many. It can cause a heart attack, heart disease, irregular heartbeat, stroke and in many instances, impotency. 

 Knowing the symptoms can help an individual to at least know if they are afflicted with sleep apnea. If an individual has any of these symptoms, they should seek the help and advice of their healthcare provider. These symptoms are:

 

1. Very loud snoring.
2. Individual will awaken with a choking feeling gasping for air.
3. There may be frequent urination during the night, unrelated to urinary tract problems or prostate enlargement (BPH).
4. The mouth will be very dry on awakening.
5. Can get up with a headache.
6. They will feel very irritable, due to the sleep interruption and not having a refreshing sleep.
7. Changes in their personality will take place and they can become very depressed.
8. They will also have problems in doing their work or daily chores because of difficulty in concentrating on the task at hand.

 Individuals prone to sleep apnea are:

 

1. Those being overweight. Obesity can be a causative factor, but is not limited to only those that are overweight, but can affect individuals no matter what weight they are.
2. An overgrowth of tissue in the throat, such as tonsil tissue.
3. Congenital narrowing of the airways.
4. Enlarged adenoids
5. An enlargement of the uvula.
6. There may be an overgrowth of soft palate tissue.
7. A deviated septum that may be obstructing the nasal passage.
8. Post-nasal drip.
9. Sinusitis.

 Those individuals that are prone to any of the above symptoms should seek advice from their healthcare provider. They may have to have a Polysomnogram. This is a test that monitors the brain waves, muscle tension, eye movements, heart rate and respirations. It also monitors the oxygen level in the blood, plus the sounds of snoring and the gasping that occurs. Sleep apnea can prove to be a very dangerous situation for those affected. In some instances, death can occur. This could have been a factor in the death of the ex-NFL football star Reggie White. The autopsy report has confirmed that sleep apnea may have been the cause of death. Things that the individual can do in addition to seeing their healthcare provider are listed below in health hints.

 Health Hints***

            1.      If you are overweight, start losing the excess weight.

2.      A Breathe-Rite nasal strip may help keep the nasal passage open.

3.      Your healthcare provider may suggest using a pump that helps blow air into your nose and throat by sleeping with a mask. This tends to keep the airway open allowing air to enter.

4.      If you a have a severe deviated septum, that may have to be surgically straightened.

5.      If you have tonsils and adenoids, they may have to be surgically removed.

6.      An overgrown uvula can be shaved down surgically, or by laser.

 Do not ignore any signs or symptoms mentioned above…look into it sooner and not later!

 Doc Cane