Savvy Senior
The Hidden Dangers of Sleep Apnea Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, How can you know when someone has sleep apnea? My husband has become such a terrible snorer that he wakes himself up at night, and he keeps me up too. – Tired Teri Dear Teri, If your husband is a loud snorer who wakes himself up during sleep, he probably needs to be tested for sleep apnea, a dangerous disorder that affects more than 22 million Americans but often goes undiagnosed. Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person to stop breathing during sleep, hundreds of times during the night, for 10 seconds or more at a time. Left untreated, it can cause extreme daytime sleepiness, as well as a host of serious health conditions, like high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and dementia. In fact, it’s estimated that every year, around 38,000 Americans die in their sleep from a heart attack or stroke because of sleep apnea. But the good news is that sleep apnea is very treatable, and most insurance
Volunteer Spotlight Food Bank Volunteer Honored RSVP of the Boyd has lived Capital Region’s in the Manchester volunteer of the area for over 50 month is Beverly years. She enjoys Boyd for her sewing, walking, volunteer efforts gardening, and at York County crafts. She has Food Bank. four daughters, Boyd has also two sons-insown drawstring law, seven bags and lap grandchildren, quilts and has four stepclipped coupons grandsons, and a for the military. dog. Volunteer Beverly Boyd. She has also For more volunteered with information on Special Olympics for 20 years, volunteering with RSVP of the with AARP to assist with taxes, Capital Region, please contact and with the Agency on Aging as Scott Hunsinger at (717) 893a friendly visitor. 8474 or yorkrsvp@rsvpcapreg.org. Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus LIFE’s Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus LIFE, Volunteer Spotlight, P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 .
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August 2021
50plus LIFE
companies, including Medicare, cover it. Who Has It? There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea (or OSA) is by far the most common and occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway. While anyone can have it, sleep apnea is most common in people who are overweight, male, and middle-aged and older. For women, the risk increases after menopause. The symptoms include loud snoring (however, not everyone who snores has apnea), long pauses of breathing, gasping or choking during sleep, and daytime drowsiness. But because most of these symptoms happen during sleep, most people don’t recognize them. It’s usually the person they’re sleeping with who notices it. Diagnosing Sleep Apnea To help you get a handle on your husband’s problem, the American Sleep Apnea Association has several diagnostic tests he can take at sleepapnea.org/
Time is a Priceless Gift
Volunteer Spotlight
Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus LIFE’s Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus LIFE, Volunteer Spotlight, P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604. www.50plusLifePA.com
