If you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night with your heart pounding and your lungs gasping for air, you know it’s terrifying. And how scary would it be for your better half to notice that you stop breathing while sleeping, even if it’s just for a very short period of time?
Either of those situations are classic symptoms of sleep apnea.
And there are two kinds — the version called “obstructive” when you struggle to breathe and another called “central,” when your brain actually “forgets” to breathe. Both kinds can up your risk of high blood pressure, Afib, heart failure, and even diabetes.
No matter which case you’re experiencing, you might be asking your doc questions like “Why?” and “What can I do?” And first, he’ll likely talk only about the usual suspects — which include obesity, medical conditions such as heart disease, and even allergies. He may suggest a CPAP mask or even surgery.
But before you sign up to buy a noisy, expensive machine or go under the knife, here’s what you need to know: The true cause of your nighttime breathing issues may very well be something else.
And even the new-fangled device they want to put inside of you won’t fix it.
DIA or DOA?
First, here’s how the FDA believes central sleep apnea (CSA) should be treated.
At the beginning of the month, it approved what’s called the Remede System for CSA. The device is surgically inserted into your chest to monitor “respiratory signals” as you sleep.
If you stop breathing, wires that have been placed in blood vessels will zap your “phrenic” nerve so that your diaphragm will start moving again.
So far, we know this device can cause side effects such as infections at the surgical site, swelling, “local tissue damage,” and what the FDA calls “pocket erosion,” wherein the device can actually start poking out of the skin.
And that was discovered in a trial that tested it on a whopping 141 patients! Imagine what might turn up when this thing starts being put inside untold numbers of Americans.
But while the FDA now has doctors and patients mulling over this new gizmo, there’s something else you’re not being told about the cause of you sleep apnea
It’s called DIA — but, for many patients, it could just as well be DOA.
DIA stands for “drug-induced apnea.” Anytime a drug slows your respiratory rate or affects the muscles used in breathing, you’re in danger of DIA.
And seniors face the biggest risk.
These drugs include opioids like codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine in addition to benzos such as Xanax, Valium, and Halcion… but that’s not all.
There’s also a class of meds called “Z drugs” that operate in your brain in almost exactly the same way as benzos do. Some of them are prescribed with familiar brand names such as Ambien, Lunesta, and Intermezzo, but you’ll also find them in plenty of generic names as well.
One of these drugs could be taking your breath away while you sleep… and you wouldn’t even know it!
In fact, not only are doctors not warning patients to steer clear of these kinds of meds, but they’re actually prescribing them to help with sleep apnea. Is that unbelievable or what?
Benzos are even given to patients with CSA to “promote deeper stages of sleep.”
Wow, I’ll say — not breathing for long enough will give you the deepest sleep you can get!
If you believe you might be suffering from sleep apnea, it’s important not to ignore the symptoms, which can include exhaustion during the day (even after a full night’s rest), snoring, and waking up abruptly during the night — especially if you’re short of breath.
A night spent in a sleep clinic, where they monitor your breathing, should be enough to diagnose the condition.
But before you take any drugs… or allow this new device to be inserted in your chest… why not try these steps:
#1: If you’re taking any drugs to help with sleep, pain, or anxiety, schedule a visit with your doctor ASAP and find out how to get off of them. Many of these meds must be stopped gradually — something you may need your doctor’s help with.
#2: If you’re a back sleeper, change position! Sleeping on your side can keep your throat muscles from tightening up and stop episodes of sleep apnea in many people.
#3: Put a humidifier in your bedroom to help decrease dryness in your nasal passages. With more moisture in the air, you should be able to breathe better.
#4: Try a magnesium supplement, which can help protect the muscles in your upper throat.
HSI panel member Dr. Glenn Rothfeld also advises his patients to lose some weight if they’re carrying around extra pounds. Temporary fixes, such as those nasal strips that help you breathe better or an anti-snoring mouth piece from your dentist, can help as well, he says.
And if you can’t tolerate the CPAP mask your doc has prescribed for you, ask him about something called EPAP, which goes under your nostrils instead.
“Implant to treat central sleep apnea approved by the FDA” Robert Lowes, October 6, 2017, Medscape, medscape.com
