| Sleep apnea is a condition that is not always treated | | | | begins to drop back, slowly blocking the windpipe. The |
| seriously, sometimes with devastating consequences. | | | | uvula (the small fleshy V-shaped flap that hangs down |
| One indication of sleep apnea is snoring. Sleep apnea | | | | at the back of the throat) also blocks the airway. As |
| is caused by the same conditions as | | | | the swollen tissues block the throat, the athlete has |
| snoring--constriction of nasal airways and the throat. | | | | further difficulty with snoring, and develop serious, |
| Unfortunately this signal, which should indicate a | | | | potentially life threatening, sleep disorders. |
| problem, is often overlooked. Sometimes, the only | | | | Studies have shown that fourteen percent of all |
| indication is a partner complaining about the snoring. | | | | professional football players suffer from sleep apnea. |
| Unfortunately, sleep apnea can kill, as it did on | | | | Even more worrying is the study showed up to 34% |
| December 29, 2004. Just seven days after his 43rd | | | | of offensive and defensive linemen, Reggie White was |
| birthday, NFL hall-of-famer Reggie White passed | | | | one of these, are likely afflicted with the condition. |
| away. While the official cause was recorded as | | | | When looking for signs and symptoms, loud snoring |
| cardiac arrythmia, sleep apnea is thought to have | | | | and daytime sleepiness are key signals. Sleep apnea |
| contributed to his death. | | | | can be more accurately predicted by evaluating BMI |
| Sleep can be a hazardous state for people with sleep | | | | (body mass index) and neck size. |
| apnea. It is caused by relaxation of the muscles in the | | | | It is a hard thing to learn that your job may kill you. But |
| air passages, which causes breathing to be interrupted. | | | | for many of these athletes that is exactly what |
| Breathing is often restarted with a loud rumbling snore. | | | | studies are showing. Despite good intentions to lose |
| These non-breathing events, or apneas, can last for | | | | the weight when their careers are over, too many |
| ten to thirty seconds. It is frightening to realize that | | | | players have found it almost impossible after years of |
| someone with sleep apnea may stop breathing as | | | | working hard to put on and keep the weight. Coaching |
| many as 100 times during a typical night's sleep. | | | | staff push these athletes to get bigger and stay bigger. |
| Recent studies on athletes are coming up with some | | | | The average weight of football players has increased |
| startling results. With professional football increasingly | | | | by ten percent since 1985. This higher weight not only |
| pushing for bigger players, more are obese now than | | | | risks more complicated injuries, it risks life threatening |
| ever before. There are concerns that with nearly 400 | | | | sleep disorders. |
| players with weights over 300 pounds, football is | | | | It is hoped that with Reggie White's death, the world of |
| setting a dangerous precedent. These men are | | | | sport has an increased awareness of sleep disorders, |
| destined to have problems because of the large size | | | | and the dangers associated with them, helping to |
| of their necks and tongues. As they sleep, their tongue | | | | prevent another tragic death. |