Sleep Apnea/Snoring Ready to Throw Your CPAP Out the Window? Sleep apnea and snoring are two of the most common sleep disorders and affect millions of people and their spouses. The usual treatment is a CPAP machine prescribed by a sleep doctor. But a large number of people just can’t tolerate them and discontinue use after a trial period, endangering their health and sometimes their lives.
We Offer a Great Alternative to the CPAP! Oral appliance therapy is an alternative method to get a good night’s rest with no snoring, interrupted breathing, or airway blockage. The oral appliance comfortably holds the jaw forward to maintain an open airway during sleep. Dr. Andy and Dr. Joel have received specialized training in oral appliance therapy, and can custom fit an appliance for you. Give our office a call and we will set up an appointment for one of the doctors to evaluate your specific symptoms and determine if an oral appliance is your ideal solution to sleep apnea.
Dangers of Sleep Apnea Because this sleep apnea can decrease the blood oxygen levels, it is a potentially fatal and life-threatening condition. Sleep apnea can lead to:
daytime sleepiness hypertension coronary artery disease decreased alertness mood symptoms/depression increased rate of car accidents poor quality of life
Signs of Sleep Apnea If you experience the following symptoms you are probably suffering from sleep apnea.
Do you have headaches or feel tired upon waking up? Does your partner complain of loud snoring? Are you experiencing extreme sleepiness during your waking hours? Is your snoring accompanied by frequent pauses in breathing?
Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea? While not all people who snore have sleep apnea, those who are diagnosed with this potentially life-threatening sleep disorder do snore. When snoring is interrupted by bouts of obstructed breathing that can last for more than 10 seconds and occurring several times every night that is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Because the disorder can decrease the blood oxygen levels, sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition. Ask your bed partner if you often snore too loudly. If you do, you need to speak with us as soon as possible. For people who don’t have bed partners, you can tell if you have sleep apnea or not if you notice morning headaches upon waking or excessive drowsiness during the day.
What is Sleep Apnea? The term “apnea” means “to stop breathing”. A person diagnosed with this sleep disorder may experience shallow to no breathing at all during sleep. This condition occurs when there is complete or partial obstruction in the airways. When this happens, the chest muscles and diaphragm work harder to bring air into the lungs as well as clear the blocked air passage. Snorting, loud gasps, or body jerking are common when breathing resumes to normal. As a result of the airway obstruction, there is little air that flows into the lungs, causing reduced distribution of oxygen to the organs as well as irregular heart rhythms. There are around 12 million Americans diagnosed with sleep apnea. It is also estimated that 1 in 25 men and 1 in 50 women have this sleep problem. This disorder is also common among people with large or thick necks as well as those with narrower airways in the mouth, nose, or throat.
Treating Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment for sleep disorders may vary, depending on its causes. For mild cases, a lifestyle change will suffice. This conservative approach includes the following: • • • • • •
Shed excess weight, Stop the use of sleeping pills Steer clear from tobacco use Avoid alcohol Get enough hours of sleep Seek new sleeping positions