Q: Dear Dr. Greg,

I feel tired a lot during the day and my partner tells me that I snore. What can I do to feel better?

Fred

A: Dear Fred,

If you snore at night and feel tired during the day, you might have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). When you have OSA, the back of your throat partly closes up when you're trying to breathe at night. You're gasping for air all night long.

OSA is tough on your body. Your sleep is choppy and terrible. You're tired during the day and more likely to crash your car. If you have OSA, you'll have more problems with your and blood pressure. You're even more likely to get Alzheimer's disease when you're older. People with untreated sleep apnea can become impotent and die sooner. Plus, you probably drive your partner crazy with all the snoring!

If you think you have OSA, speak with your doctor, and get checked. There are easy overnight tests that your physician can give you to use at home. If it turns out that you have sleep apnea, you'll want to get it treated. Here are some options:

• Lose weight - If you're overweight, a small amount of weight loss can cut your sleep apnea risk in half! As a side benefit, treating your sleep apnea will help you lose even more weight. 

• Sleep position - Try to sleep left-side down or on your stomach. Avoid sleeping on your back.

• Alcohol - Drinking can make OSA worse. Even without sleep apnea, alcohol is bad for your sleep. If you think you have sleep apnea, try to cut back on the booze. At a minimum, don't drink close to bedtime.

• CPAP - Your doctor can prescribe a machine to help you breathe at night. It fits over your nose or face and gives you air while you sleep. If you have significant sleep apnea, CPAP can be a life-saver.

• Mandibular advancement device - These dental appliances push your jaw forward while you sleep. They can reduce snoring and help some people with sleep apnea. If you're interested in trying one of these, look for a specially-trained dentist to create a custom one for you.

• Surgery - Several surgical procedures can help with OSA. Since some of these surgeries are a big deal, you should go under the knife only if nothing else works.

  Dr. Greg