Is my husband ill or just fat and grumpy?
MY HUSBAND has been very grumpy lately. He’s tired all the time despite a tendency to nap during the day. I’ve noticed he’s also snoring really badly and it seems as if he stops breathing. He needs to lose a lot of weight so I’m wondering if these issues are connected. Should we start with the GP and work from there?
IF YOUR husband is carrying excess weight it’s possible that his fatigue and day-time napping might be due to elevated blood sugar.
Type 2 diabetes is a distinct diagnostic possibility for patients who are obese, so if he hasn’t been looking after himself and he’s piled on the pounds, it might be what’s going on. Over and above the snoring, which won’t be down to diabetes, he should take a test, even if it’s just to rule it out.
Weight gain and fatigue could be down to a slowing of his thyroid gland function, which could be tested at the same time. It also makes sense to include a test for anaemia and general blood work if you think he needs a medical make-over.
Now back to the snoring. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) occurs when the muscles of the throat relax during sleep, which in turn obstructs breathing. If you are obese, have large tonsils, experience jaw issues or have a family history of OSA you are at greater risk. Men suffer more than women.
If this is the issue, snoring tends to be very loud, there are audible pauses, and gasping and choking sounds. There is restlessness and movement during sleep. You feel exhausted when you wake up, and can have a headache or dry throat. Patients are often irritable, depressed or have problems concentrating.
Not only does the condition result in fatigue, it has other, more far-reaching consequences. Patients often have accidents while driving as they fall asleep at the wheel. There is also an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and sudden death, so it’s no joke.
If you can, record his snoring. It will give the doctor a good guide to what’s going on.
Your husband’s snoring may be directly related to his weight, which is very much a factor in OSA. To reduce his snoring he can sleep on his side (sew a tennis ball into his pyjamas so he will be uncomfortable when he rolls onto his back!).
Avoiding alcohol is also important, ideally for four hours before bed, because it relaxes the throat muscles further, compounding the problem.
There is a solution to sleep apnoea over and above weight loss, alcohol avoidance and side sleeping. It’s a machine called a CPAP. It blows compressed air into the mouth via a mask, which helps keep the airway open. Sleep apnoea patients find these machines reduce snoring, help them get a decent night’s sleep and reduce their risk of associated diseases. MY FACE seems to have broken out in acne thanks to this hot, sweaty weather. I have never had acne before, even as a teenager. Is it the sun or could
THIS sounds like acne rosacea and it’s likely that the sun is the trigger.
Going from extremes of temperature can be another provoking factor, as can oilbased sun screens.
It is a common skin condition that favours Celts and those with fair skin. Women are affected more than men and it tends to start in the 30s but can occur at any age.
Typically you get red bumps and pus filled spots accompanied by facial redness, flushing and thread veins.
For starters, a strong sun screen is necessary. Make sure it is water-based as an oil base will probably exacerbate the condition. The same goes for makeup or face creams — water-based products are a must.
Seek shade by wearing a widebrimmed hat or stay indoors. If you do venture out from an airconditioned office try not to go from a very cool environment to a warm one.
Avoid alcohol and spicy foods and do not apply steroid creams to the face. Stress can also play a role, so try and take it easy.
Your GP can give you creams and pills on prescription but ultimately the onus is on you to reduce triggers.