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Snoring/Sleep Apnea
Sleep Disorders make it hard for people to sleep soundly at night - or stay away during the day. Millions of people have sleep disorders. Sleep restores our bodies and minds. Without proper sleep, you may experience fatigue, irritability, depression, reduced attention, reduced concentration and memory, more frequent illnesses, lost productivity, and more injuries from falling asleep at the wheel or at work.
What causes snoring?
Snoring occurs when the structures in the throat are large and when the muscles relax enough to cause the airway to narrow and partially obstruct the flow of air. As air tries to pass through these obstructions, the throat structures vibrate causing the sound we know as snoring. Large tonsils, a long soft palate and uvula and excess fat deposits contribute to airway narrowing.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliances that treat snoring, UARS, and obstructive sleep apnea are devices, worn in the mouth, which are similar to orthodontic retainers or sports mouthguards. Oral appliance therapy involves the selection, design, fitting and use of a specially designed oral appliance that, when worn during sleep, maintains an opened, unobstructed airway in the throat. Currently, there are more than 40 different types of oral appliances available. Oral appliances may be used alone or in combination with other means of treating OSA, including general health and weight management, surgery or nasal continuous positive air pressure (CPAP).
Sleep Apnea Screening
Dr. Rose offers ApneaLink, an overnight sleep study that can be done in your own home. It is easy, affordable, and can potentially can save your life.
EPWORTH SCREENING SLEEP TEST
0 = no chance of dozing
1 = slight chance of dozing
2 = moderate chance of dozing
3 = high chance of dozing
SITUATION CHANCE OF DOZING
Sitting and reading ___
Watching TV ___
Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g a theater or a meeting) ___
As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break ___
Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit ___
Sitting and talking to someone ___
Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol ___
In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic ___
TOTAL SCORE _______
1 - 6 Congratulations, you are getting enough sleep!
7 - 8 Your score is average
9 and up Seek the advice of Dr. Rose without delay
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