Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19
    • Request an Appointment
    • Patient Online Services
    • Pay Bills Online
    • Refer a Patient

    Recent Posts

    • Hand controller and video game on screen
      Speaking of Health
      Are video games, screens another addiction?
      July 01, 2022
    • Sleeping baby wearing pink cap
      Speaking of Health
      Delayed umbilical cord clamping benefits baby, affects cord blood donation
      June 30, 2022
    • Bearded person with glasses
      Speaking of Health
      Men's health: Checkups, screenings key
      June 29, 2022
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Doctor's Orders
    Thursday, January 29, 2015

    Always tired? You may have sleep apnea

    DrOrders_DrDeetz_lg

    For some people, there’s no such thing as a good night’s sleep. No matter how early they go to bed -- or how many times they press the snooze button -- they still wake up groggy.

    Sound familiar? If so, you could have sleep apnea, a potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

    “Basically, in sleep apnea, your breathing is blocked or obstructed,” says Daniel Deetz, M.D., a pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist. “Your muscles relax during sleep, and for some people that narrows the airway enough that it interferes with breathing.”

    Loud snoring may be one indication of the condition.

    “If your spouse is elbowing you at night to get you to quit snoring, you might have sleep apnea,” says Dr. Deetz. “People often come in for evaluation because of a spouse’s concern about their snoring.”

    Other symptoms of the disorder include sleepiness during the day, waking abruptly and short of breath, and waking up with a headache, dry mouth or sore throat. Insomnia and attention problems can also be signs. A sleep study (see sidebar) can diagnose the condition.

    Sleep apnea can lead to a host of serious health problems, including high blood pressure and heart problems. Fortunately, Dr. Deetz says there are good treatment options available, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and dental appliances that help keep the airway open.

    “Treating sleep apnea can lead to a huge improvement in quality of life,” says Dr. Deetz. “It’s great to see the change in patients.”

    What happens during a sleep study

    During a sleep study, a technologist attaches electrodes to your body. These flat metal discs connect by wire to an electroencephalography (EEG) machine to record brain wave activity; heart and lung functions; movements of the eyes, chin, abdomen, chest and legs; and muscle activity. The technologist will monitor the information while you sleep. If sleep apnea is detected, you may be awakened and asked to try using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help keep your airway open. A sleep medicine doctor will review your sleep study results and discuss treatment options, if needed.

    Scheduling a sleep study

    Sleep studies are available at various Mayo Clinic Health System sites. Click here for more information.


    Sleep apnea: Are you at risk?

    While anyone can develop sleep apnea, certain factors put you at greater risk.

    Obstructive sleep apnea risk factors:

    • Excess weight
    • A thick neck
    • A narrowed airway
    • Being male
    • Being over 60
    • Family history
    • Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers
    • Smoking
    • Nasal congestion 

    Central sleep apnea risk factors:

    • Being male
    • Being over 65
    • Having a heart disorder
    • Having a stroke or brain tumor

    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • Sleep

    Related Posts

    JD Kirkman Home sleep study helps Holcombe man rest easy
    DrOrders_DrKubas_cover Tired of losing sleep?
    Sleeping on side in bed 8 common sleep study questions

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2022 Mayo Clinic Health System