Sleep Apnea

What is Sleep Apnea?

The term “apnea” refers to a state where breathing is interrupted.  Sleep apnea is a condition that affects approximately 12 million Americans.  While this condition is oftentimes undiagnosed, it is potentially life-threatening and, even when it doesn’t reach that extreme, it can cause significant diminishment of the quality of your life.  This condition is poorly understood but can effectively be treated via medical interventions.

These interventions range from relatively non-invasive devices designed to maintain proper airflow using dental repositioning devices to more invasive oral surgery, which may provide relief in the most severe cases of sleep apnea.  This condition is something that should never be ignored.

Two types of Sleep Apnea: The more common of the two is obstructive sleep apnea.  When you fall asleep, your entire body falls into a state of deep relaxation.  In some cases this relaxation causes a person’s tongue and soft palate to collapse, and as a result the throat becomes blocked.

The effect is essentially the same as suffocating, as free airflow through the windpipe and the lungs becomes completely stifled by soft tissue.   Quite often, those who are affected by this condition will snore loudly.  Their snoring will be interrupted.  They will quit breathing for 10 seconds or more many times throughout the night and then gasp for air because they are suffocating, .  Unfortunately, this means very little rest is actually obtained from sleep.

Those who suffer from this condition oftentimes exhibit the classic signs of insomnia.  If you have it, you may find yourself dozing during the day.  You may also suffer from headaches and GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disorder), another serious condition that can eventually lead to a condition called Barrett’s Esophagus and when not treated, esophageal cancers.  You may also experience decreased libido and in some cases, mood swings.  These classic symptoms may manifest when our bodies are deprived of a good night’s sleep.

These are some conditions that predispose people to having sleep apnea.  Your chances of suffering this disorder are higher if you are male, over 40 and especially if you are overweight.  After women reach menopause, statistically they have the same chances as a man in developing sleep apnea.  In some individuals, the size and shape of the airway can be the determining factors in this disorder.  Some surgeries, such as removal of the tonsils, adenoids and excess tissue at the back of the throat, may provide relief.  Fortunately, there are other interventions which are not quite so extreme.

For obstructive sleep apnea, your dental provider may be able to fit you with appliances that will relieve the symptoms of this condition.  These will generally reposition the tongue and the soft palate so that free airflow is maintained all night long.  If you have a partner, they’ll appreciate the lack of snoring as well!  If you are overweight, seriously consider dropping the extra pounds.  Being overweight is also linked to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease besides obstructive sleep apnea.

For a professional evaluation, please contact us (818) 788-1352