RUDE AWAKENING: How the snorers among us can get help

FORTH WORTH, Texas — The typical patient at Sleep Consultants, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas, comes in complaining of loud and obnoxious snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness and fear of a heart attack or stroke.

He is older than 35, weighs about 235, is on medication for high blood pressure, is more irritable and moody than usual and may have a history of heart disease. He finally makes an appointment with a sleep specialist at the urging of his wife or other sleep partner who said all his snorting, whistling and rattling may not be keeping him awake at night, but it's playing havoc with her sanity.

Of course, all sleep clinic patients are not overweight men, but probably half of them fit the profile, said Dr. Don Watenpaugh, a physiologist and board-certified sleep specialist.

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