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Sleep
apnea is a potentially life-threatening major medical problem and has been
linked to hypertension, depression, stroke, cardiac problems and daytime
fatigue. This disease causes its victims to stop breathing for as many as
120 times per hour for ten seconds or longer.
Snoring is caused by vibrations of the soft tissue
at the back of the throat. The three main factors that may cause the vibrations
are: weak muscles; masses compromising the airway such as the base of the
tongue, tonsils and adenoids; and, obstructed nasal passages. Snoring is
to sleep apnea as angina is to a heart attack. It is a warning sign!
Medical experts estimate that over 50 million Americans snore. In fact,
one in four people snore habitually and 45 percent of the population snores
occasionally.
It is estimated that over 10 million people may have
sleep apnea. The standard method of diagnosis has required an overnight
stay in a sleep laboratory generally in a hospital which can be expensive,
inconvenient and uncomfortable. It is estimated that only about five percent
of people who actually have sleep apnea have been diagnosed because of these
factors.
Even mild snoring has been associated with heart problems, stroke, hypertension
and obesity. Recent medical literature has shown that there is a correlation
between mild snoring, hypertension and obesity.
 50% of sleep apnea
patients also suffer from hypertension
77% of male and 64%
of female stroke patients have sleep apnea
Sleep apnea may be
responsible for 38,000 cardiovascular deaths each year
Sleep apnea patients
are seven times more likely to be involved in car accidents
Sleep apnea is more
common in men than women and is a major contributor to
 daytime drowsiness
Excess weight particularly around the neck
Enlarged tonsils
or adenoids
A family history
of sleep apnea
Use of alcohol,
sedatives and tranquilizers, which
relax throat muscles.
Nasal Obstruction
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If a person snores loudly, they should consider being tested because snoring
may be first indicator of sleep apnea. It is important to remember that
all snores are not alike. Snoring sounds may result from vibration of tissue
in the throat. In order to select the best treatment, it is important to
detect the likely source of snoring. It has been shown that different sources
of snoring produce different vibration sound patterns.
The SNAP Test is the only test to analyze the patients' snoring and breathing
patterns including their magnitude and vibrations, as well as the severity
of sleep apnea. The test's ability to analyze these sound vibration patterns,
especially those that originate at the roof of the mouth- helps physicians
select the best course of treatment for patients.
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