Kashrus Kurrents Winter 2010
Q: My doctor has told me that I have sleep apnea, and advised me to use a sleep apnea machine. Can this device be used on Shabbos?
A: Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of the disorder, is caused by the relaxation of the walls of soft tissue in the airway of the throat during sleep. Common symptoms include loud snoring, restless sleep, and daytime sleepiness. Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure,arrhythmias, diabetes, and sleep deprived driving accidents.1 Recent studies have shown that sleep apnea affects about 16% of men and 5% of women between 30 and 65 years of age.
