Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

By Bluepoint Medical Associates

Bluepoint Medical Associates

. http://bluepointmed.com

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Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

In the US, it estimated that 18 million people have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) yet only 5% to 8% of the population has actually been diagnosed and treated. Sleep apnea is a very common and serious sleep disorder that causes temporary and frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. Soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes during sleep, blocking the airway, which often results in snoring and airway collapse.

Sleep apnea can have serious consequences including

Daytime sleepiness

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke)

Motor vehicle and occupational accidents

Type II diabetes

Hypertension

The overall reduction in quality of life

Various factors can contribute to a person's risk of having sleep apnea including, but not limited to excess weight, a large neck circumference, narrowed airway, being male, a family history of the disorder, and even smoking.

Some symptoms to look out for include

Excessive daytime sleepiness

Loud snoring

Episodes of breathing cessation during sleep

Abrupt awakenings with the sensation of choking or shortness of breath

Morning headaches

Dry mouth in the morning

Anyone who thinks they may suffer from sleep apnea should be referred by their primary care physician to a sleep center for diagnosis. When it is treated it improves overall health by decreasing the severity of many co-morbidities. This includes significant improvement in controlling high blood pressure, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and improving glucose control.

Treatment options for sleep apnea include lifestyle changes, a dental appliance, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, surgery, and implantable neurostimulation technology (Inspire Therapy).

CPAP has long been the gold standard for treating OSA but some people may not tolerate CPAP.

A custom-made, FDA-approved oral appliance is a viable treatment for patients with primary snoring and mild to moderate OSA. The device helps by advancing the lower jaw forward to keep the airway more open. There are many types of oral appliances. This type of therapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments. Many people choose to combine it

with CPAP.

Those who have tried and failed CPAP therapy can consider an oral appliance as an alternative. If you choose to get one, a sleep center and a trained dentist will work together to create the appliance. The dentist will create the custom-made oral appliance and then the sleep center will test it. Some sleep centers use the MATRx system that helps with jaw protrusion measurements which quicken the time to get a properly fitted oral appliance.

Sleep apnea should not be left untreated as it has a serious impact on your overall health.