"Mrs. Wheeler," Serenity's mom answered the phone.

"Hi mom," Serenity greeted.

"Hey sweetie," Mrs. Wheeler said happily. "Are you having a good time?"

"Yes, but there's something concerning me," Serenity confessed.

"Really, well what is it?" Mrs. Wheeler's voice darkened a little with concern.

"It's about Joey," Serenity stated.

There was a breif silence and then, "Go on."

"Last night, while he was sleeping, I heard him snoring, and that's normal," Serenity explained. "But when I passed his room going to another, I heard his snoring stop. And pretty soon I realized that he wasn't breathing at all. I counted the seconds and he wasn't breathing at all for like fifteen seconds. And then he breathed in real suddenly, which sounded like it was painful to him, and soon went back to snoring. Then, about ten minutes later, I think it happened again. I went into his room, because I was afraid that he may need my help and it happened yet again. But this time, I forced a breath into him, and he woke up and he said it was painful. But then when I told him what happened, he didn't remember anything."

Serenity fell silent as she let her mom digest this information. Serenity wanted her mom to say something. To tell her that it was late at night and that it was just her imagination. But those words never came. Instead, she heard words she'd never wanted to hear.

"I never thought it would get this bad," Mrs. Wheeler sighed.

"What do you mean?" Serenity asked, shocked.

"Joey's had a disease all his life, Sleep Apnea I think it was, but he's never known about it," Mrs. Wheeler told Serenity. "However, it was never that bad, and I didn't think that it needed any inspection, so I left it alone. If it really has gotten worse over the years, it would never be detected; Joey's father would never take him to the doctor. So its severity would never be noticed."

Serenity was silent. What could she say? And why hadn't she noticed it before?

"Serenity, dear, I have to go, but if Joey get's any worse, please call me," Mrs. Wheeler said.

"Alright mom, thanks," Serenity replied.

Then Serenity hung up the phone. She sat there, thinking, and then a thought hit her.

"Mai!" she called into the house as she poked her head out of the door.

"Yes Serenity?" Mai called back, as she was at the end of the hall.

"Come here, I need to talk to you in private," Serenity stated.

Mai came to Serenity and into her room, where Serenity started explaining.

"Listen, last night, there were periods of time where Joey wasn't breathing," Serenity explained.

"Is he okay?" Mai asked.

"He seems to be," Serenity told her.

She explained to Mai about exactly what happened last night and the conversation between her and her mother.

"I'm really worried Mai, what if it's serious?" Serenity said after she had finished.

"Hon, I don't mean to scar you, but anything that causes someone to stop breathing entirely is serious," Mai stated. "However, there is something we can do. Follow me."

Mai lead Serenity to the small library that Mai had in her house. Scanning quickly over the books, Mai soon found the one she wanted and pulled it from the shelf.

"What did you say it was called?" Mai asked.

"Sleep Apnea, I think," Serenity stated.

Mai flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for.

"Serenity, here," Mai beckoned as she walked to the desk in the study.

They both looked at the page.

Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by episodes where a person's breathing stops while sleeping. For unknown reasons, in deep sleep, breathing can stop for periods of time around 10 seconds or more. Following that are sudden attempts to breathe causing a lighter stage of sleep, resulted in fragmented, unrestful sleep causing daytime drowsiness. Usually, episodes of heavy snoring begin soon after falling asleep and will continue regularly for a while, generally becoming louder. Then it is interupted by silence in which no breathing is taking place. This period is then interrupted by a loud snort and gasp and then the snoring returns back as it was. This happens frequently throughout the entire night. It is important to emphasize that often, the person who has obstructive sleep apnea does not remember the episodes of apnea during the night.

Symptoms are:

loud snoring

periods of not breathing (apnea)

awakening not rested in the morning

abnormal daytime sleepiness, including falling asleep at

inappropriate times

morning headaches

recent weight gain

limited attention

memory loss

poor judgment

personality changes

lethargy

overall swelling

confusion

high blood pressure

A complete medical history taken by a health care practitioner is the most important diagnostic tool. Often, a survey that asks a series of questions about daytime sleepiness, sleep quality and bedtime habits is given. A physical examination of the mouth, neck and throat (oropharynx) is important to detect abnormalities that may predispose.
Tests may include:

sleep studies

an ECG to show arrhythmias during sleep

an arterial blood gases to show low oxygen or elevated

carbon dioxide

echocardiogram to evaluate the function of the heart

The goal of Treatment is to keep the airway open to prevent apneas during sleep. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a form of mechanical breathing assistance that involves the use of a specially designed mask worn over the nose or nose and mouth at night, may be prescribed.

Mechanical devices inserted into the mouth at night to keep the jaw forward are being studied as a form of treatment. When treated correctly, obstructive sleep apnea usually disappears. Many persons, however, are unable or unwilling to tolerate CPAP, and the syndrome continues.

Complications

Hypertension

Right-sided heart failure

Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)

Excessive carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia)

Sleep deprivation

Call your health care provider if you have excessive daytime sleepiness, or if you or your

family notice symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.
Decreased consciousness, extreme somnolence, hallucinations, personality changes, and persistent confusion can indicate an emergency.

Mai and Serenity were stunned speechless as they turned to look at each other. It was serious.

Shadu: Review. I didn't make this up now; Sleep Apnea is a very real disease and danger. Review. I have done my homework. Review.