There are three types of apnea: Obstructive, Central and Mixed; of the three, Obstructive is the most common. Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In Central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.
Sleep apnea is very common. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues.
Treatment Options for Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
There are different treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Which option is right for you depends upon the severity of your sleep apnea (which is determined by a sleep study), the physical structure of your upper airway, and other aspects of your medical history. The various options are listed below so that you can discuss them with your doctor.
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
- Oral Appliances
- Weight Loss
- Avoiding alcohol and other central nervous system depressants
- Positional therapy
- Surgery
Contact us to see how the doctors at Chestnut Ridge Dental can help treat your sleep apnea symptoms.
Snoring
Snoring is a common sleep disorder that can affect all people at any age. Forty-five percent of adults snore occasionally, while 25% are considered habitual snorers. Occasional snoring is usually not very serious and is mostly a nuisance for the bed partner of the person who snores. However, the habitual snorer not only disrupts the sleep patterns of those close to him, he also disturbs his own. Habitual snorers snore whenever they sleep and are often tired after a night of what seems like quality rest.
What Causes Snoring?
The physical obstruction of the flow of air through the mouth and nose is the cause of snoring. The walls of the throat vibrate during breathing, resulting in the distinctive sounds of snoring. Air flow can be obstructed by a combination of factors, including:
- Obstructed nasal airways
- Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue
- Bulky throat tissue
- Long soft palate and/ur uvula
What Snoring Treatments Are Available?
Habitual snorers can be at risk for serious health problems. If you occasionally snore, you can try the following behavior changes to help treat the problem:
- Lose weight and improve your eating habits
- Avoid tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antihistamines before you go to bed
- Avoid alcohol, heavy meals, or snacks at least four hours before your sleep
- Establish regular sleeping patterns
- Sleep on your side rather than on your back
- Tilt the head of your bed up four inches
If none of the above mentioned behavioral changes help snoring, talk to your doctor/dentist. There are more than 300 devices on the market to help prevent snoring; however, surgery may be needed to correct any physical problems that exist.