Do you have Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea affects a number of people. Basically, sleep apnea is caused by long and numerous periods of non-breathing episodes during your sleep. (Most people who have sleep apnea snore at night.) Therefore, important organs are not getting oxygen which is essential especially the heart and brain. If you have undiagnosed sleep apnea, you are more at risk for heart attack, stroke and other disease. Correlated factors are high blood pressure, obesity and acid reflux.

Below is an Epworth Sleepiness scale which is a preliminary screening for sleep apnea.

THE EPWOTH SLEEPINESS SCALE:

Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:
0 = would never doze
1 = slight chance of dozing
2 = moderate chance of dozing
3 = high chance of dozing

It is important that you answer each question as best you can.

Situation Chance of Dozing (0-3)

• Sitting and reading
• Watching TV
• Sitting, inactive in a public place (e.g. a theatre or a meeting)
• As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
• Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
• Sitting and talking to someone
• Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol
• In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in the traffic

Analyze Your Score

0-7: It is unlikely that you are abnormally sleepy.
8-9: You have an average amount of day time sleepiness.
10-15: You may be excessively sleepy depending on the situation. You may want to consider seeking medical attention.
16-24-You are excessively sleepy and should consider seeking medical attention.

I will explain in the next newsletter the treatment of sleep apnea.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ian Gray