How much sleep does the average person need?

The need for sleep changes as we age and varies with each person. By far, most adults need about 8 hours of sleep to feel fully rested. A small number of people are "short" or "long" sleepers. A short sleeper may need only 3 to 4 hours of sleep, while a long sleeper may need up to 10 hours of sleep each day. Our need for sleep decreases only slightly as we age.

Diagnosis begins with recognition of the possibility of a sleep disorder by patient, bed partner, or doctor. For some disorders such as insomnia or restless leg syndrome, history, sometimes supplemented by other testing or the maintenance of sleep diaries, reveals the problem. For other disorders such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy, the disorder must be confirmed by a sleep study. For narcolepsy and occasionally other conditions, this study is followed the next day by a similar test performed during brief naps (multiple sleep latency test).

Sleep apnea may be treated by one or a combination of these therapies: surgery, dental appliance, weight loss and/or a breathing device called nasal CPAP or Bi-Pap which are available by prescription through Delnor HME. Narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome may be treated with medications. Insomnia is treated primarily by behavioral approaches including a re-learning of sleep habits.

Is snoring a sign of danger?

Snoring is very common and even more common among older people. About 25 percent of men and 15 percent of women snore. Snoring happens when air passages in the back of the nose, mouth, and throat narrow. This narrowing, which blocks normal breathing, may be caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids, nasal deformity, an enlarged tongue or a soft palate.

Snoring by itself is not harmful to a person's health. However, snoring is a primary symptom of the sleep disorder sleep apnea.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Loud snoring and daytime sleepiness are the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. Over time, sleep apnea can also lead to high blood pressure, especially around the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension); irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmias); increase in red blood cells in the blood (polycythemia); and slowed heart beat (bradycardia). Daytime sleepiness can lead to accidents, poor work performance, and personality changes.

Anyone can get sleep apnea, but it is most common in adult men. The rate of sleep apnea also increases in women after menopause. Extra tissue in the throat of some overweight people may also contribute to sleep apnea. Over eighty percent of people with sleep apnea are at least 20 percent overweight.

What testing is done to find out if a person has sleep apnea?

Two of the main types of tests used to diagnose apnea are:

Polysomnography: This test is performed while you sleep overnight at a sleep laboratory. Skin sensors (electrodes) are placed on the body and used to monitor many bodily functions, including your heart rate, blood pressure, brain wave activity, breathing patterns, airflow, and muscle activity.

Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): This test measures how long it takes you to fall asleep during waking hours. It takes most people 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. Falling asleep in less than 5 minutes is a symptom of a sleep disorder.

How is sleep apnea treated?

About 95 percent of people with sleep apnea can be helped by a treatment known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). In this treatment, you wear a mask over the nose during sleep. A machine hooked up to the mask delivers a continuous flow of air into the nostrils. The pressure from air flowing into the nostrils keeps the airways open. The patient should also be monitored to ensure that there is enough pressure to keep the airways open.

Unfortunately, about 40 percent of people who use CPAP may have difficulty getting used to the machine. The mask can irritate at the bridge of the nose or feel uncomfortable and the airflow can cause a dry or sore throat. However, the mask can be adjusted and, when used properly, CPAP can be very effective.