WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) –
There’s no such thing as a good night’s sleep for Mike Oster. The Pensacola resident suffers from a serve case of obstructive sleep apnea. When he sleeps, the muscles around his airway relax too much and block his airway.
Ear, nose, and throat surgeon, Dr. Kevin McLaughlin, explains when the brain senses you can’t breathe, it wakes up just enough to stimulate your throat and open the airway. That often results in the choking, snoring sounds so many loved ones of sleep apnea patients know. The extra brain activity also prevents the patient from fully resting at night.
“It would be like someone constantly shaking you every 10 to 15 seconds telling you to hey, take a breath,” said McLaughlin.
Lack of sleep can lead to several serious health problems, including increased risk for high blood pressure and heart attack.