This machine is used to deliver a small amount of positive pressure to keep the airways open while a person is sleeping. “The best current treatment may include using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. “If you suspect that your loved one has obstructive sleep apnea, even if the doctor dismisses it, be persistent, or seek out a second opinion,” urges Dr. Sleep apnea can aggravate underlying health conditions, so it is important to act quickly if you believe you or your loved one is experiencing sleep issues. Many doctors never consider the possibility of sleep apnea in patients who are neither overweight nor heavy snorers, but the fact is that some people with the condition don’t exhibit either of these risk factors. “If the senior’s oxygen level keeps dropping repeatedly at night along with breathing pauses, then a more formal sleep study may be warranted.” “A simple finger probe device that measures blood oxygen levels is worn on one finger while sleeping,” he says. Park advises using a continuous oxygen monitor on the person at night as a preliminary screening technique for sleep apnea. Unfortunately, participating in a sleep study can be a difficult prospect for a senior who is bedridden or who has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. The best way to get a definitive diagnosis of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders is by undergoing an overnight sleep study. Allergy prevention methods like using a vacuum and air purifier with HEPA filters, using nasal saline, and taking prescription allergy medications are all conservative options for minimizing inflammation in the nasal passages.” Getting the Right Diagnosis for Snoring and Sleep Apnea “Although it is not a major cause of sleep apnea, nasal congestion can sometimes aggravate the vacuum effect, worsening soft palate or tongue collapse. “It is a good idea to promote better nasal breathing, too,” Dr. These changes alone could minimize snoring and improve sleep quality. Propping the body with pillows to prevent rolling onto their back or using a wedge pillow or an adjustable mattress to slightly elevate the head are simple, non-invasive positional techniques. Park suggests raising the head of your loved one’s bed, if possible, and helping them to find a comfortable sleeping position on either side or on their stomach. They naturally prefer to sleep on their sides or stomach, so they can breathe better.”ĭr. Most people find it uncomfortable to sleep in this position. “In general, people snore more and sleep less effectively on their backs. In people with OSA, this is the worst position to be in, since structures in the throat are most susceptible to collapse due to gravity,” Dr. “In the elderly, especially those who are immobile or bedridden, they’ll most likely be lying or sleeping on their backs. If an aging loved one snores or experiences pauses in breathing while sleeping, then there are a few things you can do to improve their air flow now. Therefore, it is important for spouses and family caregivers to be aware of the symptoms of OSA so they can bring them to their loved one’s attention and act on them as quickly as possible. In many cases, people with OSA do not realize that they are snoring and cease breathing at night. At times, a person may wake up with a choking or gasping sensation. Some people with OSA can awaken hundreds of times during a typical overnight sleep cycle.

A partial collapse produces loud snoring, whereas a complete blockage causes the person to actually experience periods of not breathing (apnea).Ī lack of air also leads to a lack of oxygen, causing a person with OSA to wake repeatedly throughout the night so they can breathe more deeply or more regularly. As a result, suction builds up when the person tries to breath in, further collapsing the airways and exacerbating the problem.

This decreases the amount of open space that allows air to move freely in and out of the nose, throat and lungs. As people age, the muscles and other tissues at the back of the throat may lose tone and become slack, especially during sleep.

Pauses in breathing while awake