Yes, 2 to 4 percent of children have a form of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and ten percent snore regularly, leaving them susceptible to the same health risks and problems that occur in adults with OSA, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Sleep apnea is a disease where there is a cessation of airflow for 10 seconds or more. This may occur hundreds of times during the night. While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, snoring is one of the major indicators.

Read the rest of entry »

First came the headaches, the daytime drowsiness---all the classic symptoms of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea affects millions of Americans each year. It is a condition where you stop breathing hundreds of times throughout the night. While snoring is one of the most common symptoms, not everyone with sleep apnea will snore. Therefore, a sleep study is usually needed to make an accurate diagnosis.

Your doctor offered a solution: a CPAP machine. But what is it, and how does it help treat sleep apnea?

Read the rest of entry »

The New Year brings many resolutions and hopes for a healthier 2018. Some of the most common ones we’ve heard all too often: the dedication to lose weight, to eat better and to finally take advantage of that gym membership. We believe there is something important that is often overlooked on that list: sleep.

Americans aren’t getting enough sleep, and it’s affecting every aspect of their lives. 

Read the rest of entry »

When you say you’ve been “sawing logs,” it makes snoring sound almost quaint. In reality, there’s nothing remotely charming about snoring---particularly for spouses who have to share a bed with a chronic snorer. If you’re the guilty party, you’re probably embarrassed to be the cause of your partner’s bedtime tossing and turning. But there’s much more to snoring than losing some hours of “zzzzz’s.”

Read the rest of entry »

Hold your breath for 60 seconds. Wait 30 minutes and hold it again. Now, do that twice an hour for eight hours. It’s difficult to get anything done, isn’t it? Now imagine doing that all night—there’s no way you would get a good night’s sleep! This is the case for many with obstructive sleep apnea. Those with sleep apnea can stop breathing hundreds of times during the night. The result can be deadly. See how it affects your health and how it can be stopped.

Read the rest of entry »

When children have difficulty with chronic stuffy noses, continual snoring, and frequent bouts of strep throat, it may be time to “round up the usual suspects.” In this case, the “usual suspects” are frequently the tonsils. While tonsil removal (or tonsillectomy) was once considered a rite of passage, the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) has developed specific guidelines to help ear, nose and throat doctors determine who are the most suitable candidates for a tonsillectomy. Read on to find out if this procedure may be appropriate for your child.

Read the rest of entry »