Struggling to breathe

More than a year ago, Tony Koeller's snoring kept his pregnant wife from getting a good night's rest. Koeller, of Jackson, never thought much about his noisy nighttime habit until he went to Saint Francis Sleep Disorders Center, where he was diagnosed with sleep apnea.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 18 million Americans struggle with sleep apnea, a disorder that occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax during sleep, blocking the airway.

Sleep apnea is a common disorder, but it can cause problems for those who suffer from it, said Dr. Kahlid Kahn, medical director of Southeast Missouri Hospital's sleep lab.

"People with sleep apnea can wake up tired, and they're sleepy during the day," Khan said. "It can cause a real problem with your daily life."

Before Koeller was treated for his sleep apnea, it took him two to three hours to feel completely awake in the mornings.

"Not getting a good night's sleep can lead to other major health problems," said Dr. Bradley Bittle, a sleep medicine and pulmonologist at Cape Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine. "Sometimes people may not be getting the sleep they need and not even realize it."

Many who suffer from sleep apnea stop breathing and briefly wake up hundreds of times during the night without noticing.

When Koeller was diagnosed with sleep apnea, he spent the night at the Saint Francis Sleep Disorders Center. Doctors told him he stopped breathing for up to 10 seconds in his sleep about 70 times during the night.

"The combined impact of a lack of oxygen from not breathing, and the increase in heart rate caused by waking up is an increase in blood pressure," Bittle said. "Over time, these nightly increases in blood pressure can become permanent."

Sleep apnea not only limits the ability of individuals to carry out their daily responsibilities, it can become a public safety issue, Khan said.

One in five serious car accidents in the United States stems from driver sleepiness, according to the American Academy of Sleep.

"It can become so bad that people fall asleep while driving, or just sitting at a stop sign," Khan said.

The treatment for sleep apnea is fairly simple. Once a person is determined to have the disorder, they receive a continuous positive airway pressure mask to sleep in at night.

Geri Beussink is the follow-up coordinator for patients who are given the CPAP masks at the Saint Francis Sleep Disorders Center.

"The CPAP masks are the most effective treatment in place today," said Beussink, who has worked with patients who have sleep disorders since 1990.

Since Koeller started wearing his CPAP mask at night, he feels much better every morning. "It's been a blessing," he said. "My wife loves it because I'm not snoring."

Khan said the majority of patients who have sleep apnea are overweight, middle-aged men and women, but it can affect anyone regardless of age and weight.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246