Sleep Apnea

Excessive snoring can more than just a nuisance to your partner, it may be indicative of a serious health condition known as Sleep Apnea.

Although snoring is not uncommon, there are often cases where snoring may be associated with airway obstruction, preventing you from breathing. Sleep Apnea is characterized by loud snoring, followed by a period of silence that can span anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds. This silence is a result of the airway being fully blocked or so small that the airflow is inadequate for your body’s needs. The lack of oxygen and increase in Carbon Dioxide in the system eventually prompts the individual to subconsciously wake up, forcing the airway open coupled with a loud gasping sound. This pattern is often repeated throughout the night, and although individuals may not be fully aware of what is happening at night, the body may eventually respond to a series of complications associated with Sleep Apnea.

Recently, a study by UCLA researchers have shown Sleep Apnea to be associated with memory loss, shrinking brain cells in a similar manner the way alcohol or Alzheimer’s would.

Sleep Apnea is also associated with   Daytime Fatigue  Headaches  Depression  High Blood Pressure  Heart Failure  Stroke  ADHD

The causes of Snoring As you fall asleep and progress into deeper sleep, the muscles in the roof of the mouth, tongue and throat naturally relax. If the tissues in your throat relax enough, they vibrate and may partially obstruct your airway. The more narrowed the airway, the more forceful the airflow becomes. Tissue vibration increases, and your snoring grows louder, eventually progressing into a loud rumbling nuisance for bed partners!

Snoring can be attributed to a variety of factors, including:

Mouth Anatomy. Having a low, thick soft palate or enlarged tonsils can narrow your airway. Being overweight also contributes heavily to the narrowing of your airway.

Alcohol Consumption. Snoring also be brought on by consuming too much alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol acts as a sedative, relaxing throat muscles.

Nasal problems. Nasal congestion or a crooked partition between your nostrils may be culprit.

Sleep Apnea. Snoring may also be associated with obstructive sleep apnea. In this serious condition, your throat tissues obstruct your airway, preventing you from breathing. Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring followed by periods of silence that can last 10 seconds or more. Eventually, the lack of oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide signal you to wake up, forcing your airway open with a loud snort or gasping sound.

Snoring can be serious both socially and medically. Snoring can disrupt marriages and cause sleepless nights for bed partners. Habitual snoring may be more than just a nuisance and cause of daytime sleepiness. Untreated, persistent snoring caused by obstructive sleep apnea may raise your lifetime risk of developing such health problems as high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke. In children, obstructive sleep apnea may increase their risk of ADHD.

Treatment There are a number of treatments for snoring, whether it be lifestyle changes such as weight loss, or treatment procedures such as oral applicances or surgery. Treatments include: - Traditional Surgery - Laser Surgery - Somnoplasty - Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - Oral Applicances

What is an Oral Appliance? Oral appliances are form-fitting dental mouthpieces that help advance the position of your tongue and soft palate to keep your air passage open. If you choose to use an oral appliance, visit your dental specialist at least once every six months during the first year, and then at least annually after that, so he or she can check the fit and assess your current signs and symptoms to be sure that your condition isn't worsening. We at the Dental Design Spa take a less invasive approach and customize a treatment plan involving specialized dental appliances to properly place the tongue, or adjust the lower jaw to help open your airways. The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." 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, sometimes 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, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences. 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.

Not sure if you suffer from Sleep Apnea? View this PSA from the American Sleep Apnea Association.

Do you think you have Sleep Apnea? Call our office at (858) 490-4281 and we can help diagnose your condition. Dr. Agatep is one of the few dentists in San Diego trained to treat Sleep Apnea disorders. If you would like an alternative to CPAP and want to learn more information about an oral appliance, call our office for an appointment.