Night sweats, also known as sleep hyperhidrosis, may be a symptom of some underlying cause. Some possible causes include: diabetes insipidus, hyperthyroidism, cerebral palsy, hypothalamic lesions, head injuries, epilepsy, sleep apnea, sudden onset migraines, hepatitis-C, AIDS-related lymphoma, tuberculosis, anemia, any illness with fever, spinal cord infarction, familial dysautomia, and cerebral stroke. Now that I’ve scared you, don’t panic. Although night sweats can be a symptom of many serious conditions, they can also be much simpler to get rid of sometimes.

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that occurs when a person is unable to get oxygen into their system while sleeping. Periods of apnea tend to last 10 seconds or longer, and often leave the afflicted person waking up gasping for air. In this article, we’ll provide some statistics regarding this surprisingly common affliction.

- Sleep apnea is prevalent in as many as an estimated 18 million Americans alone. This statistic denotes that approximately 1 in every 15 Americans, or 6.62% of the total American population have a case of sleep apnea.

- Two to four percent of all Americans have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea. This accounts for approximately 1 in 50 individuals being undiagnosed.

A study by researchers at Korea University Ansan Hospital^[1] finds that recurrent snoring seems to be associated with the development of chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is clinically defined as a persistent cough that produces phlegm and mucus, for at least three months in two consecutive years. It is usually part of a syndrome known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)^[2].

In the paper, published in the January 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, 4,270 individuals (52 percent men and 48 percent women) were studied, from 2001 to 2006. At the start of the study, participants gave information on health conditions, demographics, family disease history and lifestyle, as well as details about how often they snored.

In some patients suffering from sleep apnea, there is too much tissue in the uvula or the soft palate. The uvula is “the soft finger-like tissue that hangs down from the roof of the mouth into the throat” while the soft palate is “part of the roof of the mouth.” In this case a surgical procedure known as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is sometimes undertaken.

Benefits Depend on Obstruction Cause

This form of surgery can prove beneficial to some patients but not others. The cause of the airway obstruction plays a big role in deciding what type of treatment and/or surgery is required. Also known as UPPP this surgery involves the removal of the tonsils as well as parts of the uvula and soft palate.

A breakthrough therapy from the company Restore Medical gives sleep apnea patients yet another option for relief from their symptoms. The initial results are promising. This procedure is doing well in comparison with more conventional treatment options such as the surgical laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).