III. Reading Comprehension
Roger Currie quit smoking ten years ago. Then his weight ballooned and his blood pressure soared. Along with the weight gain, Currie, a 55-year-old radio announcer, developed a snoring problem, his wife informed him. Worse, he routinely stopped breathing. Tests at a sleep clinic yielded quick diagnosis: sleep apnea.
In obstructive sleep apnea, tissue in the throat relaxes during sleep, collapsing—and closing off—the airway. Excess weight can narrow the passage, but you don’t have to be overweight; some people have slight abnormalities that
cause the disorder.
Most apneacs aren’t aware that they’re reaching consciousness continually during the night, as often as every
30 seconds. The frequent, arousals, necessary to restart breathing, prevent apneacs from getting enough restorative
deep sleep. Perhaps as a result, apnea is associated with hypertension, stroke and heart disease.
Sleep apnea strikes millions of people, including about 25 per cent of people over 65.
For five years, Currie slept wearing a special mask
that propelled air into his nasal passages. But after dieting
and exercise trimmed 45 kilos from his frame, Currie felt good enough to try going to bed unmasked. He got up the
next morning and felt sufficiently rested to try it again. He’s been mask-free ever since. Even better, his longtime
hypertension has disappeared. 【題組】75. What may cause health problems to sleep apneacs?
(A) They are obese. (B) They are old and frail.
(C) They don’t get enough quality sleep.
(D) They have slight but dangerous abnormalities.