|
Our readers are invited to email us with their questions!
Q: What does AHI mean? (Diego I.)
A: Hello Diego! AHI stands for Apnea Hypopnea Index. More importantly, it is the measurement that determines if you have Sleep Apnea and how severe it is. The AHI measures how many times you stop breathing every hour. When you stop breathing, we call it an apneic event. If you have Sleep Apnea, your AHI (or the number of times you stop breathing) may be anywhere between 5 to 120 times per hour. Even with an AHI of only 10, this means you are not breathing once every six minutes- and so your body is being woken up all night long. If you have Sleep Apnea, you should definitely seek treatment from a qualified physician or dentist.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Q: How do I help my partner? Sometimes they stop breathing while they sleep and it's frightening. (Harris J.)
A: Hi Harris!
You’re correct to be frightened. The halting of breathing is not normal and can have many serious adverse effects. Breath arrest is a sign of sleep apnea and your partner should take a sleep test as soon as possible.
| 
