Sleeping without breath.: one woman's frightening story

Vibrant Life, March-April, 2004 by Janice Thompson

The Greek word "apnea" means "without breath" People with untreated sleep apnea slop breathing repeatedly while they slumber, often hundreds of times, often for a minute or longer.

--American Sleep Apnea Association

In early January 2002 I awoke with a headache so bad I couldn't raise my head Such events had been happening to me more and more frequently. After swallowing some pills and drawing in some strong, deep breaths, I began to feel better, After I got up and moved around a bit, the pain faded

The next morning the pattern repeated itself. After six such rude awakenings in a row I knew something was terribly wrong. I didn't think stress was causing my headaches, but what was? They were excruciating. And why did I always seem to awaken feeling as if I'd had no rest at all? I knew I snored and often tossed and tinned in my sleep, but what did that have to do with my aching head?

Sitting down at my computer, I went to my favorite search engine and typed in the words "morning headache." Nearly every site that popped up contained something about a condition called "sleep apnea." Intrigued, I began my research. I had no idea that what I'd find would change my life.

I learned that sleep apnea is a very real condition affecting millions. Typically, what happens to most victims begins in the back of the throat. The soft tissue there collapses as they sleep, shutting off their airway. The brain, finding itself suddenly devoid of a fresh supply of oxygen, sends a signal to the kings "Take in air now!" it orders. At this point the person awakens--if only for a moment--to breathe.

Imagine ceasing to breathe for 10 to 20 seconds, then strenuously gasping in air, then stopping again--hundreds of times during what is supposed to be eight hours of restful slumber: For the sleep apnea sufferer, this happens every night.

--U.S. Food and Drug Administrator

As a result, sufferers often awake with headaches caused by lack of oxygen. In short, they're battling carbon dioxide poisoning! Most unsettling of all, I learned that in many cases people stopped breathing in their sleep and never began again. They just quietly slipped away. I'd heard the lament "She died in her sleep," but failed to realize that the death might have been caused by such a condition, a malady with which I might be struggling.

A diagnosis of sleep apnea would certainly explain why I felt so miserable in the mornings. I wanted to know what caused this condition and what I could do about it. With headaches pressing and fear looming, I determined not to become another statistic.

I began to research treatment options. Mentioned online were several sleep disorder clinics where I could make an appointment and my condition could be properly diagnosed. I learned that if the doctors deemed it necessary, I could obtain a machine to wear at night that would help me get an adequate amount of oxygen.

But was there something I could do on my own? I found that there was, and the answer was staring me in the face each time I looked in the mirror.

At five-foot-two and 275 pounds, I knew I had a weight problem. I'd even conceded the fact that my snoring might be the result of weight gain. But sleep apnea? Impossible!

The more I researched, the more I began to see a pattern. While my excessive weight might not be the only cause of the condition, it certainly wasn't helping. With that in mind, l went ahead and contacted a local sleep disorder clinic and awaited their call. In the meantime I made a monumental decision. I would lose weight.

Like millions of other Americans, I'd dieted before and failed miserably. Yet now, with possibly my very life hanging in the balance, losing those excessive pounds took on a whole new urgency. Web site after Web site heralded the same message--if you'd lose even 5 to 10 percent of your body weight, the effects of sleep apnea could be lessened. While I waited to hear from the clinic I began my journey to better health--one pound at a time.

Today people ask me, "How'd you do it? How did you lose the weight?" My answer is always the same. "I just decided."

I set my eye on that minimal goal--a 10 percent weight loss. That meant I'd need to drop 275 pounds. No big deal. I did it. Then I lost another 26. And another. And another. To date, I've removed 118 pounds from my body.

And my sleep apnea and morning headaches? They resolved themselves without medical intervention the minute that first 10 percent dropped off!

I wish this could be the case for everyone, Sleep apnea is far more common than I had imagined. Some who battle this illness don't have a weight problem and must pursue other options. But for many like me relief can come naturally as the pounds melt away.

An estimated 14 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea (at least 2-4 percent of the adult population), but it often gets dismissed as just heavy snoring.

--California Center for Sleep Disorders

Sleep apnea has been called a silent killer. In my case it took a season of absolute desperation to help mc understand just how life-threatening this condition could be and what I needed to do to overcome it. Don't let it creep into your home unannounced. Pay attention to the warning signs. If sleep apnea is left untreated, the most common symptoms or side effects are: