Problems sleeping? It could be endangering your health

More than 12 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. The condition causes a person to repeatedly stop breathing for up to a minute, sometimes hundreds of times during the night. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be very dangerous. “It can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, memory problems, weight gain, headaches and even car accidents, if you are groggy behind the wheel,” says Gary Goldstein, M.D., a pulmonologist and sleep disorder specialist on staff with SSM DePaul Health Center.

Rudy Piskulick, 56, says he’s always had sleep difficulties, but he didn’t take it seriously until five or six years ago. “I manage a restaurant and bar, so it was nothing for me to get only two to three hours of sleep at night. When I woke up, I felt fine. But then I’d fall asleep in the middle of conversations during the day,” recalls Piskulick. Finally, at the urging of friends, Piskulick made an appointment with his doctor.

His doctor ordered a sleep test. “It was really easy. They put you in what looks like a nice hotel room and then monitor you while you sleep,” he says.

Piskulick was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. It is caused by a blockage of the airway in your throat during sleep. There are a variety of treatments for sleep apnea, including lifestyle changes and even dental devices. For Piskulick, the best treatment was a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. The special mask pushes air through the nose and mouth to keep your airway open while you sleep.

Now he’s getting a full six hours of sleep each night. “I’m amazed at how much better I feel. I can actually stay awake during the day. I used to make plans with people and then worry I’d be too tired because I didn’t sleep the night before. But not anymore,” says Piskulick.

“For anybody who is hardheaded like I was, I’d tell them that getting help does make a difference in your quality of life,” says Piskulick. “Plus Dr. Goldstein tells me I’m healthier and will probably live longer, so I’d say it was worth it.”