Has your spouse ever elbowed you in bed because you were snoring? If so, you may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, according to a new study that suggests this simple “elbow test” could help identify people with the sometimes-dangerous condition.
Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan asked 124 patients two questions:
• Does your bed-partner ever poke or elbow you because you are snoring?
• Does your bed-partner ever poke or elbow you because you have stopped breathing?
The answers indicated patients who were later confirmed to have at least mild apnea were far more likely to answer “yes” than “no” to one or both questions.
Wheat Belly: #1 Diet and Health Book in America Changing Lives - ONLY $4.95! Save $21!The study, presented at a meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Atlanta this week, also showed showed patients with more severe cases were more likely to be awakened for snoring and breathing stops.
Researchers suggested the results indicate asking these two simple questions could significantly improve the pretest prediction of a diagnosis of sleep apnea.