Donnie’s Wake Up Call: The Snore That Saved His Life
Snoring isn’t always harmless. Learn how Donnie from The Andie Summers Show discovered his sleep apnea and took steps toward better health.
Do you snore? Does your partner? It’s a common problem, but you may not realize the significance snoring can have on your life.
Donnie from The Andie Summers Show knows he’s a snorer. He and his wife have been sleeping in different bedrooms for years because of it. But it wasn’t until recently that he downloaded an app that took an audio recording of his snores that he realized just how bad he had gotten.
Donnie's Diagnosis
Donnie has sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, and if left untreated, it can cause serious health issues. (see the list below) If you snore, consider it a warning.
Donnie also suffers from anxiety, which can be a side effect of sleep apnea. But in this case, his anxiety may have saved his life. When Donnie heard himself snore and the sounds he makes when he is sleeping, he panicked and knew he had to do something to fix this issue.
Meet the Sleep Specialist
Donnie reached out to Dr. Thanuja Hamilton, MD. Dr. Hamilton is a board-certified Sleep Medicine Specialist. She joined The Andie Summers Show to meet with Donnie, hear his snores, and talk him through the next steps to living his best life.
Donnie’s next step is to undergo a sleep study. He will sleep at home wearing a monitor that will keep a record of how many times he wakes per night and the decibel level of his snores. After that, we will check back in with Dr. Hamilton to determine his treatment.
Key Risks of Sleep Apnea
Cardiovascular Problems
- High blood pressure (hypertension): The frequent drops in oxygen increase stress hormones, which raise blood pressure and strain your heart.
- Heart disease: Sleep apnea is linked to increased risk of heart attack, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), and heart failure.
- Stroke: Oxygen deprivation and blood pressure swings raise stroke risk.
Daytime Impairment & Mental Health
- Excessive daytime sleepiness: Poor sleep quality can cause dangerous fatigue, which increases the risk of car accidents and workplace errors.
- Cognitive impairment: Trouble concentrating, memory problems, slower reaction times.
- Depression & anxiety: Chronic sleep disruption can worsen or trigger mental health conditions.
Metabolic Risks
- Type 2 diabetes: Sleep apnea increases insulin resistance.
- Obesity: It’s a two-way street — excess weight worsens sleep apnea, and poor sleep can lead to weight gain.
- Liver problems: Fatty liver disease and abnormal liver function tests are more common.
If you would like to contact Dr. Hamilton, visit advocaresp.com.
Dr. Hamilton has appeared on:The Dr. Oz Show, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Tamron Hal Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News, Fox News Philadelphia, and KTVU San Francisco. She has contributed to numerous publications such as Good Housekeeping, Women’s World, Philly Current, Philadelphia Style Magazine, Glam.com, HuffPost, and has penned a column in The Philly Voice.
