Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 13, 2014 Art therapy Creating art and other expressive activities are integral parts of the daily routine of those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and are available daily as part of the TOUCH program at Memory Care Living® homes. Art stimulates the senses and encourages fine motor skills. The process of creating art involves the whole brain and allows a means to express oneself when verbal ability may be impaired. Art activity fosters interaction with others and can ignite reminiscing. For more information about thera- peutic activities like for those with memory impairment, see http:// www.memorycareliving.com/provid- ing-care/touch-program/ or call 1- 800-935-9898. Snoring can affect health Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to personal health. Although sleep needs vary depending on the individual, inad- equate sleep leaves a person feeling drowsy and cranky and may affect work perfor- mance. Lack of sleep can tax the body in other ways as well, escalating feelings of stress and making a person more suscep- tible to depression or anxiety. Lack of sleep may also increase one’s risk for hyperten- sion, stroke, and heart attack. Snoring is a condition that greatly affects quality of sleep -- not only for the person sleeping next to the snorer, but also for the snorer. The Health News Organization says partners of people who snore lose approxi- mately one hour of sleep per evening and may wake up as many as 21 times per hour, a condition referred to as “spousal arousal syndrome.” In the meantime, the person who is snoring is compromising his or her own sleep quality and may be at a greater risk for certain medical conditions. Snoring and a condition called sleep apnea are mostly related. According to experts at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, snoring is the milder form of sleep disordered breathing, or SDB. Snoring is essentially a partial restriction of the airway. When a person is snoring, some air gets through the trachea, causing tissues in the throat to vibrate. In cases of complete sleep apnea, no air gets through. Snor- ing can be mixed with periods of apnea, resulting in a series of snorts, whistles, and stopped breathing that can make it difficult to get a restful night’s sleep. When a person is suffering from sleep apnea and periods of snoring, he or she is struggling to get more air into his or her lungs. Air supplies may be so severely lim- ited that oxygen levels drop. The body kicks into action and awakens the sleeper so he or she can get oxygen. This cycle may repeat hundreds of times throughout the night. The sleeper may only awaken slightly and not remember these awakenings in the morn- ing, but he or she will likely feel drowsy, which is a direct byproduct of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea and snoring also may cause damage to the heart. Over time, a lack of oxygen can put undue stress on the heart, leading to a greater risk of high blood pres- sure, stroke, and heart attack. In addition, impotence, memory loss, and migraines may result from oxygen deprivation. Treating snoring often involves the assis- tance of a sleep specialist. Changing sleep- ing position or relying on breathing aides that help open the airways while sleeping may also help. Quitting smoking and losing weight can also help reduce instances of snoring. Even if snoring has not progressed to complete apnea, a sleep expert may recom- mend a device called a CPAP machine, or a “continuous positive air pressure” pump. This device blows a steady stream of air through the sleeper’s mouth and nose to help keep the tissues of the throat from collapsing, resulting in snoring or obstruc- tion. Snoring is a nuisance for all involved, especially the family members or spouses that are subjected to long nights next to snoring partners. Yet snoring can be much more than just a nuisance and may even be indicative of a blockage of the airways common among those people with sleep apnea.