Dennis Freeman
Freeman Communications
4629 Clary Lakes Drive
Roswell, GA 30075

Don’t stop snoring, says sleep specialist… until you have ruled out any underlying sleep disorder

Current anti-snoring remedies may cover up potentially life-threatening sleep apnea.  New on-line snoring questionnaire will help screen snorers for sleep disorders.

Roswell, GA, October 1, 2001: People distressed by their heavy snoring should beware of the many cures for snoring on the market – they may be covering up a clear signal that they have a serious sleeping disorder. According to sleep specialist, Dr. Samuel Mickelson, it is important for snorers to first be screened for obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder which, if left untreated, can lead to stroke and heart disease.

“It is natural for people with a snoring problem to turn to throat sprays, pills, breathing strips, dental appliances, even surgery, in an effort to dampen the noise,” says Dr. Mickelson. “But if the result is that they stop snoring but still have sleep apnea, they will be leaving untreated a life-threatening disorder.”

Obstructive sleep apnea is as common as diabetes and may affect as many as twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep when throat muscles and tongue relax and block the opening of the airway. In a given night, the number of involuntary breathing pauses or "apneic events" may be as high as 20 to 30 or more per hour. The frequent interruptions of deep, restorative sleep lead to early morning headaches and excessive daytime sleepiness, and, longer term, high blood pressure and increased risk of cardiac arrest, heart attack and stroke.

Yet, says Dr. Mickelson, a majority of apnea sufferers remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated.

A new web site, PutanEndtoSnoring.com, can help snoring sufferers screen themselves for sleep apnea. PutanEndtoSnoring.com includes an innovative, interactive questionnaire which asks a number of questions about a patient’s sleeping and snoring habits, and then produces an instant analysis of the patient’s snoring type.

Four snoring types 

The four types of snoring are:

Socially Incorrect: these are primary snorers with no apparent health issues; snoring is a problem because of the distress it causes their sleeping partners or roommates.

Nose it’s a Problem: those whose snoring problems are related to nasal issues, for example because of allergies;

Snoring out an SOS: snorers who show some signs of sleep apnea but may not know it, because they do not display the clearest symptoms of apnea – waking up choking or gasping for breath;

Not so Silent Killer: snorers with clear indications of apnea, including breathing disruption at night and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Based on the responses to the questionnaire, PutanEndtoSnoring.com suggests snoring remedies that may be most suited for that snoring type. In the case of Snoring out an SOS, respondents are urged not to address their snoring problem until they have been fully checked out by their physician for sleep apnea.

Dr. Mickelson, an advisor to PutanEndtoSnoring.com, says he recommends that those searching for a snoring cure first take the PutanEndtoSnoring.com questionnaire and then, if there is any sign of the symptoms of sleep apnea, consult their physician or a sleep specialist. “Obviously, any questionnaire is simply a first step,” he says, “And can never replace a professional consultation.”


About Dr. Samuel Mickelson

Samuel A. Michelson, MD, FACS, a past chair of the Sleep Disorders Committee for the American Academy of Otolaryngology, has a special interest in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of snoring and sleep apnea with experience in a wide variety of advanced surgical procedures, such as somnoplasty, snoreplasty, laser palatal surgery, tongue reduction and tongue advancement surgery. His research interests have led to publications in many professional journals. He can be reached at Advanced Ear, Nose and Throat Associates, PC, 960 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30342, Telephone 404-943-0900.


About PutanEndtoSnoring.com

PutanEndtoSnoring.com is a new website created by Freeman Communications, designed to be the Internet’s most objective and comprehensive resource for those who snore. In addition to the questionnaire, PutanEndtoSnoring.com provides information on snoring and related sleep disorders, and describes the various categories of snoring remedies. The web site also provides a discussion forum for visitors to exchange ideas and experiences about the cures they have tried. PutanEndtoSnoring.com can be found on the Web at http://www.putanendtosnoring.com and contacted via email at info@putanendtosnoring.com. Freeman Communications is located at 4629 Clary Lakes Drive, Roswell, GA, 30075, Telephone 770-645-8216.