Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people. It's characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. With sleep apnea, your breathing stops or gets very shallow while you are asleep. Each pause typically lasts 10 to 20 seconds or more. These episodes will and occur repeatedly throughout the night. People that suffer from this disorder will partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, butin the morning they will not be aware of the disturbances in their sleep. This intermittent interruption throughout the night carries over to the next day, which seriously affects the body's ability to function. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); it is caused by relaxation of soft tissue in the back of the throat that blocks the passage of air. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is caused by irregularities in the brain's normal signals to breathe. In most cases people who suffer from sleep apnea will have a combination of both types.
The common symptom of this disorder is excessive daytime sleepiness. Other symptoms of this disorder include restless sleep, loud snoring (with periods of silence followed by gasps), falling asleep during the day, morning headaches, trouble concentrating, Memory and learning problems, irritability, mood or behavior changes, anxiety, and depression. Not everyone who suffers from sleep apnea will have these symptoms, but it is recommended that people who are experiencing even a few of these symptoms visit their doctor for evaluation. This disorder is more likely to occur in men than women, and in people who are overweight or obese although, thin people can suffer from it too. Studies have shown that people who suffer from sleep apnea are two to three times more likely to have automobile crashes. These are some of the health risks of this sleeping disorder:
Cardiac arrhythmia
Diabetes
Dry throat upon awaking
Fibromyalgia
Frequent urination at night
Gastric reflux
High blood pressure
Hypertension
Heart attack
Impotence
Intellectual deterioration
Inability to concentrate on your work
Inefficient metabolism (weight gain)
Insomnia
Muscle pain
Mood swings or personality changes/temperamental behavior
Morning Headaches
Stroke
In some cases even death
Frightening, but, there is good news for people that suffer from this sleeping disorder. There are treatments such as a dental appliance. This appliance holds the jaw and tongue forward and the palate up, thus preventing closure of the airway. Even though this is only small increase in airway size, it is often enough to control the apnea. Dental appliances can be an excellent treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Studies have shown that it is about 75% effective for these groups. When a dental appliance is used surgery is not required; this appliance is small, portable, and does not require a machine. Another alternative is a CPAP machine which uses air pressure to hold the tissues open during sleep. In severe cases surgery is required but effectiveness is not guaranteed.
Dr. Luckey 29645 Rancho California Road, Suite 126, Temecula, CA 92591 (951) 676-4556 http://www.drluckey.com