I’ve had trouble getting enough sleep, really feeling rested, for quite some time now. My doctor even referred me to a “sleep lab.”
At the lab, I was given a comfortable sleep outfit consisting of a couple of strap-on sensors and some oxygen tubing, connected to a battery-powered recorder. After spending a (mostly) restful night thus encumbered, the lab tech downloaded the information from the recorder, and informed me that I had a mild case of sleep apnea.
Next step, the sleep class. With a group of similarly-afflicted and somewhat haggard people (we don’t sleep much), I met with a doctor for a two hour class where the group of us were told, among other things and much to our surprise, that one of the devices available to us by prescription could be (should we balk at the $150 price tag) made instead with common household items.
Biggest takeaway from the class: many cases of mild sleep apnea can be cured by losing some weight. In the meantime, avoid sleeping on your back.
This only applies to mild sleep apnea. The range (AHi, or Apnea/Hypopnea index):
< 5 normal
5-15 mild
15-30 moderate
> 30 severe
Even though those in the class had all registered with mild sleep apnea, several treatment options were shown (including surgical options for more severe cases), but with the exceptions of positional therapy (don’t sleep on your back) and weight loss (to a BMI of 23-25), all of them had side effects to contend with. In the “con” column for weight loss – it’s difficult. But given the options, I’m going to give it my best try.