HEALTH REPORT - Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Stroke Risk

HEALTH REPORT - Sleep Apnea Linked to Increased Stroke Risk
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, November 30, 2005

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Health Report.

Sleep apnea is a common disorder¹. Experts say it affects about eighteen million Americans. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for brief periods while they sleep. They may awaken² for a few seconds as they struggle to breathe. The next day, the sleeper³ may not remember what happened.

 
sleeping
Signs of the disorder include sleepiness during the day and restless sleep. Some people make rough sounds while they sleep. More men have sleep apnea than women do. It is also common in older adults and in persons who are heavy.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form. It happens when soft tissue in the back of the throat blocks the flow of air. Another form is called central sleep apnea. This results from problems with the brain's normal signals to breathe.

Left untreated, sleep apnea can be life threatening. People may get sleepy while at work or driving. Many people do not know they have it until they are tested in a sleep laboratory and treated.

Studies have linked sleep apnea to more severe problems. A recent study at the Yale University School of Medicine showed that people with obstructive sleep apnea are two times more likely to die from strokes. The risk is linked to the severity of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is also linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, and the disease diabetes⁴. Doctors are not sure why. But they suggest that oxygen levels in the blood fall when a person stops breathing. The reduced oxygen increases levels of the hormone⁵ adrenaline in the body. This causes the heart to beat faster and raises blood pressure.

Most treatments for sleep apnea begin with simple changes, such as avoiding alcoholic⁶ drinks, losing weight and stopping smoking. Others may require an operation to remove tissue and widen the airway⁷.

For more severe cases, doctors use continuous positive airway pressure, also known as CPAP (C-PAP). CPAP is a device worn over the nose that connects to a tube. The tube is connected to a small machine that controls air pressure.

Some studies have shown CPAP can improve sleep, reduce sleepiness during daytime hours and lower blood pressure. But a Canadian study found the devices did not improve survival rates among people with central sleep apnea.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. I'm Steve Ember.

1 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

2 awaken   

vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起

参考例句：

• Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
• Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

3 sleeper   

n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺

参考例句：

• I usually go up to London on the sleeper. 我一般都乘卧车去伦敦。
• But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. 但首先他解释说自己睡觉很沉。

4 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

5 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

6 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

7 airway   

n.空中航线，通风口

参考例句：

• Lay them on their side and ensure the airway is unobstructed.让他们侧躺着，并确保呼吸道畅通。
• There is a purple airway in London Airport.伦敦机场里有一条皇家专用飞机跑道。