In every family there's at least one person who's known for a rafter-rattling snore that can keep others up into the wee hours of the morning.

As much as it's an annoyance, snoring is also a symptom of a serious condition that could shave years off sufferer's lives - sleep apnea.

The condition is caused by a collapse of the upper airway during sleep, which results in loud and persistent snoring and numerous brief interruptions in breathing.

If left untreated it can lead to a multitude of problems and can also raise the risk of dying early by 46 percent, according to a recent study by Johns Hopkins University.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that nearly 12 million adult Americans have sleep apnea, but most are not diagnosed or treated.

Dr. Saqib Rashid, a Hanford physician specializing in sleep disorders, said he thinks the reason many go undiagnosed is because both patients and doctors don't understand how sleep apnea affects long-term health.

"Sleep apnea makes people tired and grumpy and they lack energy," he said. "But people don't tend to take it seriously until it's been 15 or 20 years."

Rashid said many patients go for years before seeking treatment for their symptoms, which can include fatigue, snoring, frequent acid reflux, impotence, headaches and depression.

"The spectrum for sleep apnea is quite broad and it can range from my 'husband snores' to 'I fell asleep while driving and got in a car accident,'" he said.

Since overweight and obese people have a much higher incidence of sleep apnea, losing weight through exercise and diet is one of the first steps in treatment.

But for others who aren't overweight, sleep apnea may be caused simply by the anatomy of their mouth and the circumference or diameter of their throat.

To be diagnosed with sleep apnea, patients' breathing is monitored while they sleep. This is done both at centers that specialize in sleep like Central Valley General Hospital's Sleep Apnea Center, or equipment may be taken home.

Breathing is monitored using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP mask, which puts pressure at the back of the throat. This mask is also how those diagnosed with sleep apnea are treated.

Rashid said the mask is worn for the rest of the patient's life and must be worn for no less than four hours each night.

Sleep apnea is much more prevalent in adults than children, but Rashid said children and teens do have it, but are often misdiagnosed as being hyperactive.

"Children react different to sleep apnea than adults," he said. "Adults get tired and children become hyperactive. Whenever there's a hyperactive child who is not focusing on class, the first thing one should do is have their throats examined and look at their tonsils."

Since tonsils are many times the cause of sleep apnea in children, having them removed will treat the condition, Rashid said.

He said patients who have concerns should be proactive about their health and address them with their primary-care physician.

"We live in a society where we work hard and we are sort of made to believe that fatigue is normal because of our stress and lack of sleep and we drink too much coffee," Rashid said. "But if you look at the statistics, sleep apnea is actually pretty common."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2427.

(Oct. 16, 2009)