The first question to ask yourself is â??Do I snore?â?? If the answer is yes, the possibility of having Obstructive Sleep Apnea is high. It is estimated that more than 12 million Americans have Sleep Apnea. And of those 12 million more than 80 to 90 percent go undiagnosed. If you think you might fall into this category I strongly suggest you contact a dentist that is knowledgeable and has experience treating OSA.
OSA is characterized by repeated episodes of reduction or cessation in breathing during sleep which is caused when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. These episodes can sometimes occur up to a hundred times a night and can last for a minute or more. Loud snoring is just one sign of OSA others include, abrupt awakening accompanied by shortness of breath, morning headaches and difficulty staying asleep.
We now know what OSA is and its symptoms, but the most important question is who is at risk. This disorder is found to be more common in males that are overweight and over the age of forty. OSA is more commonly diagnosed among the elderly, but this is not to say the young cannot suffer from it as well. Another important factor is the size of your neck. Males who have a neck size 17 inches or greater and women whose necks are 16 inches or greater are more commonly at risk. This disorder can also be associated with family history and people with large tonsils.
Complications from OSA include, high blood pressure, heart disease, risk for stroke and an increased risk for early death. Other side effects can be poor performance in everyday activities, such as work and school.
There are different treatments that range from conservative measures to more invasive procedures. Losing weight, stop smoking and changing your sleeping position are a few of the less invasive. Another option is the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). This treatment involves a mask that is worn over the nose and/or mouth while you sleep. It is attached to a machine that carries a continuous flow of air into the nostrils. This treatment is effective, however, many patients find this to be very cumbersome and remove it during the middle of the night. Obviously when this happens they are putting themselves at risk. We have found that dental appliances are having a very high success rate. These appliances, SomnoDent Flax, help to move the mandible (the lower jaw); keeping the airway open while you are asleep.
If you are unsure if you have OSA, there is a new device that can help determine if you are a candidate. The device, The Watch Pac, is a non invasive device that is placed on your wrist with a lead plate attached to your finger and worn overnight as you sleep. This monitors the apnea/hypopnea, repertory disturbance, oxygen desturation index and your REM sleep stage (Rapid Eye Movement). When possible to look at all these factors we are able to determine which is the best form of treatment.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is treatable. Dentistry plays a major role in sleep medicine. If you think you or a loved one might suffer from OSA it is important to look into your all of the options. It can save a life. And remember dentistry can be the portal for you to get started on your way to a better nights sleep.