Snoring in infancy linked to impaired cognitive development

Two studies from Australia associate snoring in the first year of life to impaired cognitive development. Researchers suggest that lower cognitive development could become worse in these infants with age.

In the first study, 16 infants who started snoring shortly after birth were compared with 88 babies who did not snore. Infants were determined to be snorers if their snoring occurred three or more nights a week. Snoring because of a cold did not count. The results found that cognitive development was reduced in frequent snorers from the first month of life to six months.

The second study looked at 13 infants who snored frequently from the first month of birth to 12 months. These babies had significantly lower cognitive scores when compared with 78 infants who did not snore frequently.

Both studies were conducted through the University of Adelaide and University of Australia in South Australia. The research was published in the December edition of the journal Sleep Medicine.

Learn the facts about young children and sleep and about snoring. Additional stories about children and snoring are available on the Sleep Education blog.

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Loud Snoring and Insomnia Symptoms May Lead to Metabolic Syndrome

The development of obesity-related risk factors starts with a series of common sleep problems, a new study reports. People who snore loudly or have two common insomnia symptoms – difficulty falling asleep and unrefreshing sleep - have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. People with metabolic syndrome must have at least three out of the five following risk factors: excess abdominal fat, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar.

Findings show people who snore have double the risk of developing metabolic syndrome doubles. Specifically, loud snoring predicts the development of high blood sugar and low HDL cholesterol.

The risk also increases by 80 percent in adults who have difficulty falling asleep and by 70 percent for people who don’t feel refreshed after waking. However, neither risk was tied to a specific risk factor.

Two other common insomnia symptoms - difficulty staying asleep and frequent waking - did not predict the development of metabolic syndrome.

My Child Snores, is it Sleep Apnea?

Snoring is especially prevalent in adults and a surprising number of their children also “saw logs.” Sleepeducation.com reports between 10 and 20 percent of American children snore. Children in China have similar snoring rates, a study included in the September issue of the journal Chest reports.

A survey of more than 6,000 school-aged kids found approximately 1 in 10 Chinese children snore habitually. Results show kids who snore have a parent who snores. Male gender and obesity also promote snoring. Kids with allergies or a history of upper respiratory infections tend to snore loudly.

A history of loud snoring can be a red flag for childhood OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is also a problem for about 2 percent of healthy young children. One way to tell if your child has OSA is to if the child also appears to be working hard to breathe while asleep.

One of the main indicators of sleep apnea in teenagers or adults – daytime fatigue – is not always present for kids. Unlike older patients, children with OSA often do not wake up during breathing pauses leading to more normal sleeping patterns.

The primary treatment for children who snore or have OSA is different compared to adults. Children often have their tonsils and adenoids removed to increase the size of the airway. Most often children are able to breathe normally after this procedure.

When an adenotonsillectomy doesn’t solve sleep apnea many children choose child-sized CPAP masks to keep the airway open. Oral appliances and weight loss are two other options for children with sleep apnea.

If your child snores, find out if its sleep apnea by scheduling an appointment for an overnight sleep study at an AASM accredited sleep center.

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Author and human guinea pig A.J. Jacobs tries snoring solutions

Author A.J. Jacobs has a snoring problem. His wife kicked him out of the bedroom because he was “as loud as an outboard motor, the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport, and a stadium full of Justin Bieber fans.”

In his new article “The End of Snoring,” published in the latest issue of parade magazine, Jacobs enlisted AASM member Dr. Steven Park to help him on his quest to gain re-entry to his bedroom.

If you've read anything by A.J. Jacobs, you'll know he tries to take on the role of human guinea pig. Like in his New York Times bestselling book “The Year of Living Biblically,” he made lifestyle changes for his story. On the advice of Dr. Park, he tries a slew of snoring solutions, from making lifestyle changes to visiting a sleep center.

Some of his attempts are comically unconventional. After reading a study about using an Australian aboriginal didgeridoo to treat sleep apnea, he orders one online.

It took Jacobs an entire day to learn how to use the four-foot long wind musical instrument. He never figured out if it worked, but he did note it kept the neighbors from snoring.

He tried tongue and throat exercises he found on the internet. The only effect there was a quip from his wife.

With mixed success using various at-home remedies, he booked a visit to a sleep center, where he learned he had a mild form of sleep apnea. Dr. Park said Jacobs woke up 185 times in his sleep study, the primary reason why patients with sleep apnea don’t get restful sleep.

Jacobs tried an oral appliance and CPAP therapy. Both worked, significantly cutting down his snoring. Jacobs reported trouble getting comfortable with both treatments, especially CPAP.

That’s a common issue reported by new CPAP users. On the CPAP Central section of our website you can find tips on how to make this effective therapy a better experience.

In the end, Jacobs settled for a mix of remedies, not entirely cutting out his snoring. The AASM recommends anyone with more advanced cases of sleep apnea continue their treatment. Sleep apnea can lead to deadly complications.

His wife eventually allowed him back in the bedroom, but surely she’s learning what its like to be one of the many “Real Wives of Sleep Apnea.”

Learn on sleepeducation.com what you can do to stop snoring

Dr. Oz: Snoring Solutions for Women

Recently Dr. Oz responded to a question about excessive snoring that was posed by Joyce, a member of his audience.

But Joyce wasn’t concerned about her husband’s snoring. She is the one who snores.

“Why am I snoring so much,” Joyce asked. “What is the problem?”



Dr. Oz recommended weight loss as one way to reduce her snoring. He also said that avoiding alcohol can help.

But he surprised Joyce with his final advice. He suggested that she take singing lessons.

“You learn to control the muscles in the upper throat – the same muscles that collapse (and cause snoring),” he explained. “It’s like weightlifting your muscles.”

Last year the Sleep Education blog reported that there are a variety of treatment options for snoring. But snoring is also a common sign of obstructive sleep apnea.

Most often this kind of snoring is loud and frequent. It tends to be followed by silent pauses in breathing. These pauses may end with a loud choking or snorting sound.

Joyce’s own description of her snoring suggests that she might have OSA.

“Snoring enough to disturb the entire family,” she said. “And if I even snore a little louder, I might disturb the entire neighborhood.”

Sleep apnea is a serious health problem that requires medical attention. CPAP and oral appliances are the two most common treatments. Another option is surgery, which is a common solution for children with sleep apnea.

You might be able to reduce the severity of sleep apnea by following Dr. Oz’s advice to strengthen the throat muscles. Studies suggest that it might help to play a wind instrument or use tongue and throat exercises.

But these methods are unlikely to cure sleep apnea. You should contact an AASM-accredited sleep center for help if you or a loved one snores loudly.

Read more about sleep apnea in women. Learn how women may be surprised by sleep apnea. Read about the signs of OSA in women.

Ear Tubes, Snoring & Sleep Apnea in Children

A recent study examined the risk of sleep-disordered breathing in children who had ear tubes inserted.

The study from Israel involved 352 children with ear tubes. Another 105 children were included as controls. Parents were interviewed by phone.

Results show that sleep-disordered breathing was common in children who had ear tubes inserted. Twenty-two percent of parents reported that their child snores.

Tonsils had been removed from 18 percent of children with ear tubes. This surgery is a common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in children. Thirty-four percent of children snored or had their tonsils removed after the ear tubes were inserted.

Children with ear tubes were four times more likely than controls to have future tonsil removal. Their risk for snoring was three times higher.

The authors reported that sleep-disordered breathing shares common mechanisms with Eustachian tube dysfunction. This tube extends from the middle ear to the throat.

They concluded that children who need ear tubes inserted are at risk for sleep-disordered breathing. Doctors should regularly check these children for symptoms of sleep apnea. This will allow for early detection and treatment.

MedlinePlus reports that ear tube insertion helps relieve fluid buildup behind a child’s eardrum. The tubes allow the fluid to drain so that the ears can function normally. Another name for the procedure is “tympanostomy tube insertion.”

It may be recommended when excess fluid in the ear does not go away after four months or longer. Tubes also may be inserted if an ear infection does not go away or if a child has many ear infections.

The AASM reports that about two percent of healthy young children have OSA. It occurs when soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway during sleep.

Most children with OSA have a history of loud snoring. This may include obvious pauses in breathing and gasps for breath. Parents often notice that the child seems to be working hard to breathe during sleep.

Read more about obstructive sleep apnea in children. Get help at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.

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Urine Test May Detect Sleep Apnea in Children

A new study shows that obstructive sleep apnea in children is associated with alterations in urinary concentrations of specific protein clusters.

The study evaluated morning urine proteins. It involved 60 children with OSA. They were compared with 30 children who have primary snoring and 30 controls.

The researchers found that the urine concentrations of 16 proteins were altered in children with OSA. Further analysis identified four proteins that have “favorable predictive properties.”

Using cutoff points for these biomarkers they correctly identified 95 percent of the children with OSA. This approach also produced no false-positive results.

"It was rather unexpected that the urine would provide us with the ability to identify OSA," lead author Dr. David Gozal said in a press release. “"These findings open up the possibility of developing a relatively simple urine test that could detect OSA in snoring children.”

Gozal would like to develop a color-based test that could be done in a doctor’s office or by the parents. But first the results need to be confirmed in a larger sample of children from around the country.

About two percent of young children have sleep apnea. In June the Sleep Education Blog reported that the causes of sleep apnea in children are complex.

Sleep apnea often occurs when a child has large tonsils and adenoids. But weight and nasal problems also can play a role.

Most children with sleep apnea have a history of snoring. It tends to be loud and may include obvious pauses in breathing and gasps for breath.

In October the Sleep Education Blog reported that sleep apnea affects heart rate and blood pressure in children. Another study found a high “sibling risk” of OSA in both boys and girls.

Learn more about obstructive sleep apnea in children. Get help at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.

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Sleep Books for Children

A new book helps children learn about snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Botts' Dots and the Rumble Line: How They Saved the Trees in Snordom was written by dentist Dr. Michael Simmons. He is a member of both the AASM and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

The book involves a group of civilized boars who are planting trees in the town of Snordom. But all the trees keep falling down before they can take root.

Could it have anything to do with the boars’ snoring problem? The story tells how the boars solve the mystery.

Botts’ Dots is available from BookSurge Publishing. Learn more about the book at www.snordom.com.

In 2007 Scholastic Inc. published My Daddy Snores. Author Nancy Rothstein was inspired by her husband’s loud snoring.

The book tells how Mommy tries everything to escape Daddy’s snoring. She even spends a night in the doghouse. Finally she takes Daddy to the doctor. Will there be a solution for Daddy’s snoring?

Learn more about the book at www.mydaddysnores.com. Rothstein also hosts the online Sleep Radio Show.

Couples & Sleep: Separated by Snoring?

On Sunday the Sleep Education blog reported that one sleep researcher recommends separate sleep arrangements for some couples.

What about women who sleep with a snoring bed partner? Will they sleep better by sleeping alone?

A new study from France provides mixed results. It involved 23 women who complained that they were having sleep problems because of their bed partner’s snoring.

Each woman’s sleep was monitored for one night as she slept together with her bed partner; then the women were monitored on a separate night as they slept alone.

Results suggest that sleep quality was decreased in females sleeping with male snorers; they spent a higher percentage of their sleep time in one of the stages of “light” sleep. Their sleep also was more fragmented; they had a higher “awakening index” when sleeping with their bed partner.

But the study also found no substantial improvement in objective sleep quality when the women slept alone. Their total sleep time, sleep efficiency and arousal index were about the same as when they slept with their bed partner; they also spent a similar percentage of time in the stages of “deep” sleep and REM sleep.

The study even found that some of the women had sleep problems of their own. Six of the women snored and one had obstructive sleep apnea.

The AASM reports that snoring is a common sign of obstructive sleep apnea. Most often this kind of snoring is loud and frequent. It tends to be followed by silent pauses in breathing. These pauses may end with a loud choking or snorting sound.

Sleep apnea is a serious health problem that requires medical attention. CPAP and oral appliances are the two most common treatments.

So what is the best thing to do when you have a snoring spouse or bed partner? You should contact an AASM-accredited sleep center near you for help.

Learn more about snoring solutions.

Snoring & Sleep Apnea: Tips for Bed Partners

The most common warning sign for obstructive sleep apnea is loud and frequent snoring. Often it is followed by silent pauses when breathing stops. Then choking or snorting sounds may occur when breathing resumes.

A person who has sleep apnea is usually unaware of the problem. So the bed partner plays a critical role in the identification of these symptoms.

But noticing the symptoms of sleep apnea is the easy part. The snoring may be too loud to ignore.

The hard part can be convincing a reluctant bed partner to get help. What can you do?

First, describe to your bed partner the sounds you hear as he or she sleeps. Mention that these sounds are indicators of pauses in breathing. People with severe sleep apnea stop breathing more than 30 times per hour.

If a family member or guest hears the snoring, ask him or her to tell your bed partner too. That way you're not the only one pointing out the problem.

Educate yourself about the many health risks involved with untreated obstructive sleep apnea. Share your findings with your bed partner.

Bring attention to any daytime symptoms of sleep apnea that you notice. These include severe sleepiness and drowsy driving.

Sometimes hearing is believing. For a skeptical bed partner, you may need to record the sound of his or her snoring.

That’s exactly what one member of the SleepEducation.com discussion forum did.

“I recorded my husband and then let him try to sleep while it was playing,” she wrote on Aug. 7 in a reply to a post about snoring. “He went and got a sleep study!”

Go along on your bed partner’s next visit to the doctor. Tell the doctor about the symptoms you’ve noticed.

Ask the doctor for a referral to an AASM-accredited sleep disorders center. You can find one near you at www.sleepcenters.org.

Get more tips and read more about sleep apnea and the bed partner on SleepEducation.com.

Surprised by Sleep Apnea: Women, Weight & OSA

Earlier this week Washington Post staff writer Valerie Strauss shared how she discovered that she has obstructive sleep apnea.

The sleep disorder was undetected by some doctors she had seen. And the discovery was a surprise to her. She didn’t fit the description of the typical sleep apnea patient.

Often it is overweight men who have sleep apnea. But as the AASM has reported, women can have sleep apnea too.

And sleep apnea may occur in people who maintain a healthy weight. A study presented last week at SLEEP 2009 found a high rate of sleep apnea in non-obese adults.

What were the warning signs that Strauss had noticed? She often felt tired after waking up. She also was having memory problems. And her husband complained about her loud snoring.

These are common symptoms of sleep apnea. Another recent study shows that people with sleep apnea also may report having fatigue or a lack of energy.

But initially doctors put the blame for her exhaustion on other problems. Maybe she was anxious. Or depressed. Or maybe she was going through a hormonal change.

Finally an overnight sleep study at a sleep disorders center confirmed that sleep apnea was the culprit. During the study she had an average of 27 breathing pauses per hour of sleep.

The diagnosis enabled Strauss to get the treatment she needed. The sleep center ordered a CPAP unit for her and had it delivered to her home; the cost was covered by her health insurance provider.

Now she is able to sleep better, and her snoring has stopped. That’s good news for her and her husband.

Are you at risk for sleep apnea? STOP and find out. You also can answer these questions on SleepEducation.com to learn more about your risk.

On SleepEducation.com you also can learn how a sleep study may be your best investment for long-term health.

Get help for sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.

Large Tonsils Aren’t the Only Cause of Sleep Apnea in Children

Excess body weight is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea in adults. In children, sleep apnea often occurs when a child has large tonsils and adenoids.

But a new study in the journal Sleep shows that the causes of sleep apnea in children are complex. You can’t put all of the blame on the tonsils; weight and nasal problems also play a role in child sleep apnea.

The study involved 700 children between the ages of 5 and 12 years. They were randomly selected from 18 public elementary schools.

Results show that 1.2 percent of children had moderate sleep apnea; it was more common in older children between 9 and 12 years of age. Twenty-five percent of children had mild sleep apnea; 15.5 percent had primary snoring.

Body mass index (BMI) and waist size were significant and strong predictors of both snoring and all severity levels of sleep apnea. Nasal factors such as chronic sinusitis, rhinitis and nasal drain were significant predictors of mild sleep apnea. Black and Hispanic children were more likely to have primary snoring and mild sleep apnea.

And tonsil size? Surprisingly, it wasn’t a significant risk factor for snoring or for any severity level of sleep apnea.

This means that adenotonsillectomy may not always be the best treatment for sleep apnea in children. This surgery involves the removal of the adenoids and tonsils.

Study author Edward O. Bixler, PhD, said that other treatments may be better options for some children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB).

“Risk factors for SDB in children are complex,” Bixler told the AASM. “Treatment strategies should consider alternative options, such as weight loss and correction of nasal problems.”

Get help for child sleep apnea at an AASM-accredited sleep center near you; a board-certified sleep specialist will determine which treatment option is best for your child.

Learn more about sleep apnea in children at SleepEducation.com.

Sleep Apnea & the Banana “Cure”

A small study has generated some big claims about bananas and obstructive sleep apnea.

One news outlet proclaims that the “banana may prove to be a life saver” for people with sleep apnea. Another article states that bananas “may help cure sleep disorders and snoring.”

It sounds too good to be true. Is it fact, or online fiction?

The source of the buzz is a study from Australia. The results were presented last week at a scientific meeting. The study abstract (#TP231) is available online.

The study examined the “surface active phospholipids” of bananas. It sought to determine how long the surface tissue of the mouth might retain these oily compounds.

Initial tissue cells were swiped from the inside of the subjects’ cheeks. Analysis found that these cells showed no evidence of phospholipids.

Then participants drank a 200 ml “aqueous suspension” – a fruit smoothie. The drink contained 130 grams of ripe banana. Tissue samples were taken one, two, four and six hours after consuming the drink.

Analysis determined that the majority of these cells showed signs of phospholipids. The intensity was “largely retained” six hours after drinking the banana smoothie.

The authors suggest that a coating of phospholipids on the throat may help prevent the collapse of the airway during sleep. They conclude that this could have value in the treatment of sleep apnea and snoring.

It is important to note that the study involved only eight healthy women with an average age of 20.1 years; none of the subjects had sleep apnea.

The study did not measure any kind of treatment effect. So there is no need to rush to the grocery store just yet. It is far too early to proclaim that bananas have any role in the treatment of sleep apnea.

Although you won’t find it at a fruit stand, CPAP is still the most effective treatment for sleep apnea. And oral appliances are another effective option.

Getting Help for Sleep Problems – from a Dentist?

CBS 2 News in Chicago reports that a growing number of dentists are practicing “dental sleep medicine.” What does dentistry have to do with sleep?

The most obvious connection between your teeth and your sleep is bruxism. This occurs when you grind or clench your teeth during sleep.

Bruxism can damage your teeth and cause jaw discomfort or pain. It also can briefly disturb your sleep – and wake up your bed partner.

A dental sleep medicine specialist can fit you with a mouth guard that you wear during sleep. This will protect your teeth and reduce the grinding noise.

But dental sleep medicine specialists aren’t just bruxism experts. They also may be able to help you with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. These problems involve a partial or complete blockage of your airway.

A dentist who practices dental sleep medicine can fit you with an oral appliance to wear during sleep. This is similar to an orthodontic retainer. It keeps your airway open by holding your tongue or slightly moving your lower jaw forward.

The AASM approves oral appliance therapy as a treatment for snoring. It also recommends that an oral appliance may be an effective treatment option for mild or moderate sleep apnea.

Treatment with CPAP therapy is the best option for severe sleep apnea. A board-certified sleep specialist at an AASM-accredited sleep center can help you determine which treatment option is best for you.

The sleep center will refer you to a specialist in dental sleep medicine for help with oral appliance therapy.

Much Ado About Snoring

Segments of today’s Morning Edition on NPR focused on snoring in adults and children.



Snoring is a common problem. But what can be done about it?

First, you need to be aware that snoring is a common sign of obstructive sleep apnea. Most often this kind of snoring is loud and frequent. It tends to be followed by silent pauses in breathing. These pauses may end with a loud choking or snorting sound.

Sleep apnea is a serious health problem that requires medical attention. CPAP and oral appliances are the two most common treatments. Another option is surgery, which is a common solution for children with sleep apnea.

But what about a milder case of snoring that is unrelated to sleep apnea? Are there any solutions?

Well there are hundreds, if not thousands, of products that are marketed to “cure” snoring. This is true of most other health problems as well. The FTC reports that consumers may spend billions of dollars on “unproven, fraudulently marketed, often useless health-related products, devices and treatments.”

So be careful. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

One option that can work is an oral appliance. It keeps the airway open when you wear it as you sleep. It should be fit by a specialist in dental sleep medicine.

Wearing a nasal strip may have a mild effect on snoring. Using a lubricant nasal spray also may help.

A steroid nasal spray may help for snoring related to nasal congestion. Regular nasal decongestants may not work as well. They may have a “rebound” effect that could worsen nasal breathing later in the night.

There are two other treatment options for snoring that involve behavioral changes.

One is weight loss, if your snoring is related to being overweight or obese. Of course, this is easier said than done. Weight loss also takes time, so it certainly isn’t a quick fix.

Another option is “positional therapy.” Basically, this means that you sleep on your side instead of on your back. Certain types of pillows can help you do this. Or you can try the old home remedy of sewing a tennis ball in the back of your pajamas.

Just keep in mind that you need to find out if your snoring is a sign of sleep apnea. Contact an AASM-accredited sleep center near you for help.

Read the AASM’s summary of common cures for snoring. Or read the full report from the journal Sleep.

Sleep Apnea & Women: What are the Signs?

Male. Middle-aged. Obese. Snores loudly and frequently. Bedpartner notices pauses in breathing during sleep. That is the typical description of a person who has obstructive sleep apnea.

But don’t be mistaken: Women have sleep apnea too.

Do women have different symptoms than men? A new study takes a look. It compared 20 women with 71 men who were all admitted to a sleep clinic.

The average age, body mass index and blood pressure were similar between men and women. They also reported a similar level of daytime sleepiness.

Snoring was the most common symptom in both men and women. It was reported by 95 percent of the men and 90 percent of the women.

Women were more likely than men to report morning headaches. They were less likely to have dry mouth in the morning. Women also were more likely to have depression or hypothyroidism.

The results support a previous study in the journal Sleep. That study also found that women with sleep apnea were more likely to complain about insomnia.

Sleep apnea is more common in women who are menopausal or postmenopausal. Having a neck size of 16 inches or more also increases a woman’s risk for sleep apnea.

View a list of warning signs for sleep apnea. Find out if you are at risk for sleep apnea.

Sleep & Relationships: Are You a Sleep Stealer in Bed?

For all of the procrastinating men out there, here’s a quick Valentine’s Day checklist. (You did know that today is Valentine’s Day, right?)

Chocolate. Flowers. More chocolate. Overly sentimental greeting card that somehow expresses “just how you feel.” Sleep.

Sleep? Sure – a good night’s sleep may be exactly what your valentine needs – especially if you’re a sleep stealer.

A sleep stealer? That’s right. Your sleep habits or behaviors may cause your loved one to lose sleep at night. You may even cause her to have environmental sleep disorder.

A 2004 study in the journal Sleep examined how sleep affects a marriage. It found that an individual’s sleep problems can have a negative impact on his or her spouse’s health and well-being.

A sociologist has even described the “Social Etiquette of Sleep.” He suggests that you can be an “inconsiderate or selfish” sleeper.

How do you know if you’re a sleep stealer? Here are seven signs. See if they describe you – or your bed partner. After all, both men and women can be a sleep thief.

Signs that you may be a sleep stealer include:

1. Snoring: You remain oblivious to the noise you’re making while you sleep. Your bed partner, on the other hand, is frustrated, annoyed and wide awake.
2. Sleep talking: Your conversations, laughter and other noises may amuse your bed partner at first. But eventually he or she may start wishing you would just be quiet.
3. Taking the covers: While you’re snug and cozy, your bed partner is left out in the cold.
4. Using bedtime for relationship building: At the moment when your bed partner is about to fall asleep, you say, “Can we talk?”
5. Being a night owl: While your bed partner is trying to fall sleep, you’re in bed watching TV, talking on the phone, doing paperwork or reading.
6. Preferring to be warm: Even though a cool room promotes good sleep, you insist on keeping the thermostat turned up all night.
7. Refusing to go to bed alone: When your bed partner tries to call it a night, you make him or her wait until you’re ready to go to bed.

So are you guilty of sleep stealing? Or are you in bed with a sleep thief? What other types of behavior do you think should qualify as sleep stealing?

Tomorrow we’ll look at some things you can do to help put an end to sleep stealing.

What Disease is the #1 Killer of Women?

Did you guess cancer? You’re close, but wrong. Diabetes? You’re getting colder. The answer: In the U.S. heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. Surprised?

Don’t feel bad if you got the answer wrong; you’re not alone. The NHLBI reports that 35 percent of women are unaware that heart disease is the leading killer of women.

February is American Heart Month. So now is the perfect time to think about your own heart health.

Using 2004 data the CDC reports that 27.2 percent of deaths among women are due to heart disease. Cancer comes in second place at 22 percent. Stroke is third at 7.5 percent, and diabetes is seventh at 7.1 percent.

The raw numbers are even more striking. In 2005 heart disease took the lives of 329,250 women – more women than men. Cancer deaths: 268,890 women – including 69,105 due to lung cancer and 41,116 due to breast cancer.

The CDC also reports that heart disease affects large numbers of younger women: It is the third-leading cause of death for women between the ages of 25 and 44.

Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking. You also have a higher risk if you are overweight or obese.

Another risk factor for heart disease that often is overlooked is obstructive sleep apnea. But sleep apnea and snoring are just for men, right? Wrong.

Sleep apnea is common in women; but women are less likely than men to receive medical help for it.

Warning signs for sleep apnea include pauses in breathing, loud and erratic snoring, and gasping for breath during sleep. Women with sleep apnea also are likely to complain of restless sleep, daytime sleepiness, insomnia and even depression.

Are you at risk for sleep apnea? Complete this online questionnaire to find out.