Sleep Apnea

WHAT CAUSES SLEEP APNEA?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tongue and throat muscles relax during sleep and temporarily narrow or block the airway. This blockage causes oxygen levels in your blood to drop and is the leading cause of fragmented or disrupted sleep patterns. When your brain senses this, it momentarily wakes you to breathe and raise the blood oxygen saturation. This “wake up call” your body does can happen hundreds of times a night. While many do not remember the arousal, it still interrupts the desired level of sleep we need for our bodies to repair and rejuvenate. This leads to the sluggish and tired feeling many have when they wake each day.

RISK FACTORS OF OSA

Men, women, children and adults can all suffer from sleep apnea. Risk factors that put you at an increased risk can include:

OVERWEIGHT
FAMILY HISTORY
OBSTRUCTED NASAL PASSAGE
ALCOHOL, SEDATIVES AND TRANQUILIZER USE
SMOKING
NARROW AIRWAY
LARGE NECK CIRCUMFERENCE

SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT

The severity of your sleep apnea will determine what type of treatment you will receive. Treatment ranges from lifestyle adjustments to oral appliance therapy to CPAP devices. In extreme cases surgery may be required. For mild to moderate cases, oral appliance therapy is a highly effective option. This custom fitted device will reposition your jaw while you sleep so you can obtain a full nights rest and alleviate snoring.