Special Report: Snoring Dangers
2,209 views · Published 20 February 2013 · 2:36 · Indexed 25 September 2026
Channel: WLOS News 13 · 2013 · News & Politics
Snoring isn't just annoying and embarrassing, it's also potentially deadly.As News 13's Jay Siltzer explains in this special Health Alert, improper breathing while sleeping may be taking years off your life.Dr. Angela Connaughton, Western Carolina Pulmonary, it can be a sign that someone may have sleep apnea.Sleep apnea in itself indicates you may be at risk for other problems... Heart problems, high blood pressure, and risk of early stroke to name a few.A sleep study at Medwest Harris in Sylva determined Lou Ellen Hawk has sleep apnea.Overnight monitoring of brain waves and vital signs indicated she woke up repeatedly gasping for breaths without reaching restful, dream sleep.Blowing air into her throat to keep the airway open provided her with restorative sleep for the first time in years, all because of the C-Pap machine.Lou Ellen Hawk, I have much more energy; I don't snore anymore. It's made a big difference.But people who sometimes don't adjust well to the mask and remain sleep deprived put themselves and others at greater risk:Jodie Wade, FNP sleep specialist, you don't plan to fall asleep at the wheel ever. The sleep come sober because the brain needs sleep. If a person is not getting the proper sleep when they need it, it's easy for the brain to cut off and go into sleep in the daytime.Getting caught in that viscous cycle of feeling tired and not sleeping well, we work to devote energies to losing weight and exercising.Some patients' snoring can be successfully treated with medication or a retainer-like dental device. Severe snoring, though, requires C-Pap.So, who needs to be screened for a sleep study?Experts say anyone who keeps a bed partner awake from snoring, wakes up gasping for air, or is more than 20% overweight. _______________ Follow WLOS on social media: WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/ WLOS ABC 13 News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WLOS_13 WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13 Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to AnchorMOMS, the Podcast: https://wlos.com/news/anchormoms/anchormoms-the-podcast Watch more top local news stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8Ge6UXHJs&list=PLkVbaoT-aYbIvnEpR0Ct5QQQqYaORUSUH For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.wlos.com Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://wlos.com/watch Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340 WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
