THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 Page 17 OBITUARIES Barbara E. (Nickerson) Mazman Of Saugus, formerly of Lynn, age 87, died on Wednesday, July 7. She was the beloved wife of Harry Mazman with whom she shared 64 years of marriage. Born and raised in Lynn, Mrs. Mazman was the daughter of the late George and Edith M. (Gooby) Nickerson. She worked for 20 years as a Tax Processor for the IRS and had been a resident of Saugus for the past 60 years. An avid Patriots fan, Barbara was very competitive in her family’s fantasy football league. She also enjoyed arts, crafts and quilting. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Mazman is survived by her three children, Edward Mazman of Swampscott, Karen Mazman-Stevens and her husband Douglas of Reading and Anita Anderson of Peabody; seven grandchildren, Erica, Julie, Elaina, Zachary, Kenneth, Valerie and Lauren; one great granddaughter, Ty; daughter-in-law, Virginia Mazman of Newbury; as well as many nieces and nephews. In lieu of fl owers, donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association at heart.org. GARDENS | FROM PAGE 15 berry (Rubus odoratus) – is an eastern native in the rose family. It is part of a planting done several years ago at the Ironworks by the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation along the eastern bank of the Saugus River near the blacksmith shop. You will fi nd native strawberry plants growing among them, with ripe berries if the wildlife did not get to them just before you went out to look! The purple fl owering raspberry has showy fl owers with fi ve pinkish purple petals and a pale tan center, blooming over a fairly long period from early to midsummer, and often producing fruits that resemble raspberries. These fruits provide food for wildlife, but while they are considered edible they are not nearly as palatable as regular raspberries (Rubus idaeus and hybrids), black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus and hybrids). The brambly growth habit resembles its tastier relatives, but there are a few differences. This plant has reddish bristles along the stem but no actual thorns. The leaves look like maple foliage. As an ornamental plant, it’s surprising it has not been used in gardens more often. Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design, plant selection and placement of trees and shrubs, as well as perennials. She is a member of For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-233-4446 or Info@advocatenews.net the Saugus Garden Club and off ered to write a series of articles about “what’s blooming in town” shortly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired after seeing so many people taking up walking. Sa Sen i r Sa a y Senior Senio BY JIM MILLER The Hidden Dangers of Sleep Apnea Th Hidd D Dear Savvy Senior, How can you know when someone has sleep apnea? My husband has become such a terrible snorer that he wakes himself up at night, and he keeps me up too. Dear Teri, If your husband is a loud snorer who wakes himself up during sleep, he probably needs to be tested for sleep apnea, a dangerous disorder that aff ects more than 22 million Americans, but often goes undiagnosed. Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person to stop breathing during sleep, hundreds of times during the night, for 10 seconds or more at a time. Left untreated, it can cause extreme daytime sleepiness, as well as a host of serious health conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and dementia. In fact, it’s estimated that every year, around 38,000 Americans die in their sleep from a heart attack or stroke because of sleep apnea. But the good news is that sleep apnea is very treatable and most insurance companies, including Medicare, cover it. Who Has It? There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and mixed. Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea (or OSA) is by far the most common and occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway. While anyone can have it, sleep apnea is most common in people who are overweight, male, middle-aged and older. For women, the risk increases after menopause. The symptoms include loud snoring (however not everyone who snores has apnea), long pauses of breathing, gasping or choking during sleep and daytime drowsiness. But because most of these symptoms happen during sleep, most people don’t recognize them. It’s usually the person they’re sleeping with who notices it. Diagnosing Sleep Apnea To help you get a handle on your husband’s problem, the American Sleep Apnea Association has several diagnostic tests he can take at SleepApnea.org/ treat – click on “Test Yourself.” If the screening indicates that he may have sleep apnea, make an appointment with his docTired Teri tor or a sleep specialist who will probably recommend an overnight diagnostic sleep test called polysomnography, which can take place at a sleep center lab (see SleepEducation.com), or at home using a portable device. Treatment Options Your husband is at greater risk for sleep apnea if he’s overweight, smokes, and/or consumes excessive amounts of alcohol. Excess weight, especially around the neck, puts pressure on the airway, which can cause it to collapse. Smoking can increase the amount of infl ammation and fl uid retention in the upper airway. And alcohol and sleeping pills can relax the muscles in the back of his throat, interfering with breathing. Addressing these issues, if necessary, is usually the fi rst line of treatment. If that doesn’t do the trick, mild cases of sleep apnea may respond to oral devices that fi t into the mouth like a removable mouth guard or retainer. These devices work by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward to keep the airway open during sleep. Another noninvasive treatment option to consider is the new FDA approved eXciteOSA device (eXciteOSA.com). This treats sleep apnea and snoring by improving tongue muscle function by delivering electrical stimulation to the tongue through a mouthpiece that’s worn for just 20 minutes during the day. If none of these options work, the most effective and commonly prescribed treatment for OBA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. This involves sleeping with a snorkel-like mask that’s hooked up to a machine that gently blows air up the nose to keep the passages open. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. nior ior
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