KTRV Fox 12 Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

It's a common night-time problem. If snoring is keeping your household up at night, it could be due to a serious disorder.

Technically, sleep apnea is when the airway closes during sleep, and the consequence isn't only feeling tired all the time but could lead to bigger health issues.

"It's about 24 percent of adult men and about 9 percent of adult females have sleep apnea," said Dr. Mark Rasmus, medical director of Idaho Sleep Health.

It's something we're hearing more and more -- people are "waking up" tired.

"There is definitely an increase in awareness, of people, you know, 'Oh, maybe this is why I feel terrible all the time,'" said sleep technologist, Lori Burtcher.

If this sounds familiar, then you might consider a sleep test.

"If they're snoring loudly, their wife notices that they gasp or stop breathing, and they may or may not be overweight," said Rasmus.

"They come in, we find out they stopped breathing a hundred times an hour," said Burtcher.

You find yourself spending a night hooked up with dozens of wires in hopes of finding a better path to sleep.

"One of the more difficult things when treating Sleep Apnea is finding masks that work," said Rasmus. "Fortunately there's over 100 different masks on the market. The dental appliances work by pulling the tongue and the jaw forward and opening up the airway."

If it works, it can make a world of a difference.

"Untreated, sleep apnea leads to high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and diabetes," said Rasmus.  "We like to think that by treating sleep apnea, we can prevent further problems down the road."

Some could find themselves spending the night catching more z's.

"It's so gratifying, you know when a patient comes in, feels terrible, you know when they wear the CPAP, they're already better even after the first night, they feel amazing," said Burtcher.

Rasmus said the stereotype is that obesity is the only cause for sleep apnea.  Although weight is usually a factor, it is often overestimated.  It all boils down to the size of your airway, where you carry your weight, and many times it can be genetic.