Treatment Of Sleep Apnea.

You might have been told by your partner or your friend or housemate or even your child that you snore very loudly, and it got to a point where it became very embarrassing. It could be due to sleep apnea, where lack of oxygen during an episode causes you to jolt awake, although usually so briefly that you don’t remember it (about 10 seconds).

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder wherein breathing repeatedly stops during sleep and causes loud snoring and daytime tiredness, even with a whole night’s sleep, leading to serious health problems like hypertension, cardiomyopathies, stroke, etc., if untreated.

These disruptions to natural sleep rhythm mean you get to spend more time in light sleep and less in the deep, restorative sleep you need and can cause you to be less energetic, lazy, and unproductive the next day.

If you feel you need to talk to a doctor near you to discuss your symptoms, especially if you suspect sleep apnea, you can schedule a consultation with our team at Claremont Dental Group, as we are capable of providing quality Sleep Apnea Services. We’d be glad to have a conversation with you.

Types Of Sleep Apnea.

There are three types of sleep apnea, and they are:

Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the most typical type of sleep apnea. The muscles supporting the soft tissues in the upper airway relax during sleep and block the normal flow of air in and out of the nose and mouth, causing loud snoring and interrupted breathing.

Central sleep apnea: This type is a much less common type that involves the central nervous system and occurs when the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing. However, people with central sleep apnea seldom snored, and studies have shown that an underlying health condition often causes it.

Complex or mixed sleep apnea: This is a rare combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

What Are Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

It can be tough to identify and clinch sleep apnea by yourself since the most prominent symptoms only occur when you sleep. However, you can get around this by asking your bed partner, or roommate, or children to observe your sleep habits, or you do this by recording yourself during sleep.

The main symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Frequent, loud snoring.
• Daytime sleepiness and fatigue, no matter how much time you spend in bed.
• Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep.

Other less specific symptoms are:

• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat.
• Restless sleep, nighttime awakenings, or insomnia.
• Waking up at night feeling short of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Having morning headache.
• Visiting the bathroom frequently during the night.

Risk Factors and Causes of Sleep Apnea

Anyone can have sleep apnea, although certain factors increase the risk of having sleep apnea. Allergies or other medical conditions that cause nasal congestion and blockage can also contribute to sleep apnea.

Sex: It’s seen more in men than women, although increases in women after menopause.

Older age: It can occur at any age but is commoner in older folks, those in their 50s and 60s.

Weight: The risk is higher in the overweight and higher still in those who are obese.

Smoking: Smokers at a 3-fold risk of developing sleep apnea than non-smokers.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep Apnea practice involves the diagnosis and treatment of Sleep apnea. It is diagnosed via a sleep evaluation and includes an overnight sleep study called a polysomnogram (PSG). During this test, body functions such as the brain’s electrical activity, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing patterns, etc., are recorded at night during sleep.

After the sleep evaluation, treatment for sleep apnea could be either of:

Conservative management: This involves lifestyle modifications involving loss of weight, cessation of smoking, and nasal sprays or breathing strips while sleeping.

Mechanical Therapy: Involves the use of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy.

Dental appliances such as the mandibular advancement apparatus help prevent the tongue from blocking the throat and advance the lower jaw forward, keeping the airway open during sleep.

Surgical procedures: usually done after the above methods don’t work. Such practices include Somnoplasties, Tonsillectomies, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasties, Mandibular/maxillary advancement surgery, and Nasal Surgery.

All these and more are available to you at Claremont Dental Group. Just make that call to book a consultation and we’d be glad to have you around.