Soft Palette Revision for Sleep Apnea

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Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
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Soft palette revision is a type of surgical treatment that is sometimes used to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is very personal. Each person has several of their own factors that lead up to OSA. The reasons vary greatly, but there seems to be a cure for almost every cause.
People suffering from sleep apnea have many treatment options available which include invasive and non-invasive options. The challenge is finding the right treatment. Each one needs to address factors contributing to a person’s individual disorder.
Soft palate surgeries are becoming very popular and can help tremendously. After healing from soft palate revisions targeting sleep apnea, external appliance use such as CPAP or mouth guards may be unnecessary for many people.
The soft palette contributes to OSA in numerous people. When a person breathes, the uvula and soft palate gently vibrate. In OSA, they do so to a much higher degree causing loud snoring.
Sometimes the reason for the snoring is because the soft palate is too big due to anatomy. Other times tissue becomes big from excessive vibrating which causes “trauma” and swelling.
When the soft palate is over sized, it can partially or completely block the airway. This results in OSA. The treatment options for this particular cause of OSA are often surgical in nature, the most popular being surgeries to reduce the size of the soft palette. Soft palate revisions for sleep apnea seem to have good outcomes when they are performed on patients that actually need it.
LAUP – Laser assisted Uvulopalatoplasty, removes extra tissue from the uvula and soft palate with a laser over the course of several appointments until snoring has been decreased or no more tissue can be removed. This can be done in most offices under a local anesthesia.
Somnoplasty has basically the same outcome, removal of extra tissue, as LAUP, but radio frequency reduction methods are used instead of lasers. The tissue is burned away, by high radio frequencies, then the body absorbs to dead tissue over time. This procedure can be done several times until the desired outcome has been achieved or no more tissue can be safely removed. Patients report this method is less painful than LAUP.
Other soft palate revisions used for sleep apnea are the palate stiffening procedures. Some of these surgeries involve creating scar tissue that will function as rigid splints. Another stiffening surgery uses implants to create firmness of the soft palate which should keep it from collapsing during sleep. The implants are synthetic fibers that are placed midline to, and parallel to the midline of, the soft palate.
Three implant are inserted with a hollow needle under a local anesthesia. They can be removed with relative ease if necessary.
Soft palate revisions used for treatment of sleep apnea are minor surgeries and are mostly effective. In cases where they haven’t been successful in alleviating sleep apnea symptoms, it has been either because there have been other causes along with the oversized soft palate or the soft palate hasn’t been the reason for the obstruction.
The importance of a good investigative doctor well experienced in sleep apnea cannot be stressed enough when considering body altering surgeries involving the mouth and airway.

Sleep Apnea – It’s not Just Loud Snoring

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea is an illness that many people fail to recognize until after the symptoms have caused grief to the family and employers. In fact, the spouse is often the first one to realize that there may be a physical reason for the odd behaviors and symptoms of someone suffering from sleep apnea (OSA).

Someone suffering from this sleep disorder will often snore very loudly. The snoring may be so loud, in fact, that his or her partner gets little sleep. Someone with OSA will also appear to stop breathing for a second or two during sleep, which looks like they’re temporarily holding their breath. The subsequent lack of oxygen causes them to be startled awake, but often they are completely unaware that they wake up many times during the night. Since the individual usually drops back to sleep almost immediately, and then begins snoring again, partners often believes they are the only ones missing sleep. This can be a severe strain on the relationship, especially if the person with OSA refuses to seek treatment.

It may look as though an individual with this sleep disorder is getting lots of sleep, so it seems strange to others if the individual has difficulty staying awake during the daytime, even dropping off to sleep at inappropriate times. They may have difficulty concentrating, and appear depressed. Because they really aren’t getting quality sleep during the night, they may also have a reduced interest in sex, and other personality changes can also occur. Some of these symptoms are similar to common mental health disorders, and others are seen by friends and coworkers as symptoms of laziness or sloth. This judgement can add to the individual’s stress, and can make relationship problems even worse.

If someone you know who suffers from these symptoms, it would be wise to encourage them to see their doctor. The snoring and obstructed breathing during sleep usually have a physical cause, which may vary from one individual to another. There may be an obstruction in the upper airway due to excess tissue caused by obesity, or the tonsils or tongue may be too large. In addition, the airway muscles are usually relaxed or collapse during sleep.

Some of the causes of sleep apnea are also associated with other life-threatening conditions. A proper diagnosis is important, because if the individual goes without treatment he or she will have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, and other forms of heart disease. In addition to the physical risks of this sleep disorder, relationships with families, friends and employers may continue to suffer. Productivity at work will go down because the individual is so abnormally sleepy, and it can become dangerous to work with heavy equipment or drive an automobile.

There are a number of ways that obstructive sleep apnea can be treated, including the use of a C-PAP (continous positive airway pressure) machine. This machine has a nose mask that is worn during sleep. The C-PAP machine keeps air blowing into the nose, which will keep the airway open. If obesity is a causitive factor in sleep apnea, as it often is, the patient will be advised to slim down. Weight loss is almost always accompanied by a complete cessation of sleep apnea symptoms, and for this reason some obese OSA patients are opting for gastric bypass surgery.

Because sleep apnea may be caused by a variety of factors, and because the symptoms could also be caused by sleep disorders other then OSA, a diagnosis by a qualified professional is needed before treatment can begin. Your doctor will usually prescribe a sleep test, which is done by a specialized clinic. This test is usually covered by medical insurance, but it is always a good idea to call your insurance carrier to see if they require you to visit a clinic that is contracted with them. The results of the sleep test will tell your doctor if any form or respiratory equipment is required, or if surgery is indicated. Experimental treatments, such as the Radio Frequency Procedure developed by Stanford University, will probably not be covered by your insurance.

Do you snore, or do you sleep with someone who snores so loudly that you can’t get any sleep? It’s time to see a doctor to find out if sleep apnea is to blame.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea ?

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
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Your snoring can be more than an annoyance to your partner. It can also be a sign of a serious sleep disorder that can have long terms effects on your health. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when the upper airway becomes obstructed by a narrowing of the respiratory passages.
It can disrupt your breathing and unknowingly wake you up countless times during the night. Consequently, you won’t get the deep sleep that you need to function well when awake. In this article, we’ll detail the symptoms of this disorder and your apnea treatment options.
The most common complaints associated with obstructive sleep apnea are loud snoring, disrupted sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Patients with apnea suffer from fragmented sleep and may develop cardiovascular abnormalities because of the repetitive cycles of snoring, airway collapse and waking up.
Although most patients are overweight and have a short, thick neck, some are of normal weight but have a small, receding jaw. Because many patients are not aware of their heavy snoring and nocturnal arousals, this nocturnal sleep problem may remain undiagnosed.
Sleep apnea can come with other health conditions. Cardiovascular disease is common in patients. Hypertension and obesity increase the risk of cardiac disease and are frequent findings in patients with this type of disorder. Patients with apnea who are smokers may also have coronary artery disease and obstructive airway disease.
Psychosocial problems are common in patients who have apnea. These patients often have depression, mood changes, poor memory, irritability and impaired concentration. Nocturnal panic attacks have also been associated with this type of disorder.
Sleep medicine isn’t enough to treat apnea. Specialists usually recommend weight loss, and dental devices that modify the position of the tongue or jaw. Some doctors may prescribe the use of a CPAP mask. With this method, straps hold the mask firmly over the nose and the CPAP machine that generates the positive airway pressure sits on a table next to the bed.
CPAP treatment is used in most patients who have apnea. Jaw surgery is the most invasive surgical procedure used to treat this malady. The surgical procedure may be limited to pulling the tongue forward. An extensive procedure may entail moving both the mandible and maxilla. Extensive jaw surgery has a higher complication rate and a longer recovery time.
Sleepiness during the day is perhaps the least worrisome of all the side effects. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
The risks of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea include heart attacks, strokes, impotence, anxiety disorders, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and heart disease. The severity of the symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe but it’s best to consult a clinic as soon as possible for the appropriate apnea treatment.

Breathing Machines for Sleep Apnea

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
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Sleep apnea is the restriction of the airway when you are lying down. When you are in bed, ready to get some rest for the night you are tired. As you sleep, you might snore, and with that sleep, apnea could be occurring. Sleep apnea is the restriction of the breathing, by too much flesh, restriction because of your tonsils or adenoids or any number of other conditions. To aid you in treating your sleep apnea, and to keep you breathing while you are sleeping, breathing machines are often times recommended. One type of therapy is the continuous positive airway pressure. This is a flow of air, to the airway in your body, through the nose or the mouth that is going to provide oxygen to your body. As the continued pressure on the airway is maintained, the airway is going to remain open while you are sleeping. This is a therapy that is used on thousands of people, and that is getting results without having to have surgery. If you are not experiencing a total blockage of the nasal or airway passages, the continuous positive airway pressure is one that could work for your situation. Sleep apnea involves your body stopping breathing. Even the short stops that your body overcomes will harm and put additional stress on your heart. Opening the airways will aid in treatment of your airway blockage so you can breath easier while sleeping. Often times the pressure related airway opening is going to take place with a mask over the mouth, or a tube inserted into the nose, or it could be a combination of the two. Talking with your family doctor is going to be vital in overcoming and learning more about your personal problems about snoring, sleep apnea and if you are suffering from additional symptoms that are affects of having sleep apnea, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. What should you do if you think you have sleep apnea, or breathing problems while you are sleeping? You should take a visit with your family doctor, have your tonsils checked, and have your adenoids checked in case they are enlarged. Ask to see a specialist if you still are concerned about your condition and you feel your doctor does not understand your questions or problems. Take a sleep study with the specialist and learn more about your own sleeping habits and if you are living with sleep apnea. Learn from the specialist about what your options are, and make your choices from there so you can get the rest you need and the sleep you have always wanted, peacefully!To get a good nights sleep please visit:www.disorders-sleep.infoAuthor Darren MalloryC/O www.akashop.com

Sleep Apnea and the Child

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
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As the parent of a child with sleep apnea, you will find they snore; they make all types strange noises when they are sleeping, and you will find their small chest is going to retract as they try to catch a breath when sleeping. A child with sleep apnea is not going to be getting a good night sleep when they are not able to breath properly while sleeping. Sleeping, with snoring, and with the inability to breath properly can lead to harsh behavior, the inability to concentrate and the child is going to be tired more often.
The same symptoms that adults feel and notice will be noticed in children when it comes to sleep apnea, and obstructive sleep apnea. The signs that a child is tired during the day, that you hear the noises when they are sleeping, that you see they have a hard time breathing when they are sleeping, and that they are cranky or irritable even after a long nights rest, these are all signs of sleep apnea.
The signs of a child that is suffering with sleep apnea are similar to those of the adult. For the child, a loud a raspy noise when they are sleeping occurs. They gasp or choke for air when sleeping. They have a very restless night sleep, go through bedwetting problems, they often tell you about nightmares, and terrors in the dark. Children will sleep with their mouth open, you can see their chest retract as they gasp for air, and they sometimes are sleeping in strange positions. The strange positions come about because they are so tired, so exhausted, they fall asleep in various positions that will allow the child to breath freely and properly to get rest.
A child may show signs of depression or outward signs of confusion because they are generally tired, from lack of sleep. The child may also show signs of behavior changes as they are not getting the sleep needed that is related to sleep apnea. A sleep test can be done on the child, as with adults, to determine the severity of the sleep apnea, and the additional stress on the body, or lack of oxygen, which will then give the doctor the means to make a more concrete method of helping your child, with or without surgery.
What you might find surprising is that just 25 years ago, the only method of helping a child that had very severe obstructive sleep apnea was a tracheotomy. In our modern times, doctors realize that removal of the tonsils, and / or the adenoids is going to make a major difference in how a child breathes. The removal of tissue in the airway is also a boosting effort that will not harm the child, but that will allow the child to breath much better overall, giving the child a much better restful night of sleep.
To get a good nights sleep please visit:www.disorders-sleep.info
Author Darren Mallory
C/O www.akashop.com

The Basics About Sleep Apnea

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
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Sleep apnea is describes as the pausing of breathing during the nighttime while a person is sleeping. This is a problem that can occur over and over during the night. There are many warnings to alert the person that they may have sleep apnea.
Some of the sleep apnea basics to learn will help a person better understand the problem as well as help them find a way to treat it. One sign of sleep apnea is loud snoring. This is an indication of breathing problems or blocked air passages. The cessation of breathing or even choking spells in the middle of the night is also a warning sign of sleep apnea.
For the more severe cases, a person can choke during their sleep many times in the night. This will cause the person to loose sleep and not feel as rested in the morning as they would like. Many people are faced with being tired during the day and may even have trouble concentrating.
Another warning sign and basic piece of information for sleep apnea is going to the bathroom more frequently during the night. There are a lot of people that have problems staying focused at work because they are up and down all night long. For others, driving is dangerous because they are so sleep deprived that they cannot keep their eyes open long enough to drive safely.
Mood swings are another basic sign of sleep apnea. Many people that do not get the rest that their body requires will find that they have terrible mood swings. They will get irritated more easily and may also have a hard time getting along with others.
Having a decrease in a person’s sex drive is also another sign of sleep apnea. They will not have the energy to even think about being intimate let alone performing. This can cause stress in a relationship as well.
Many people will also have headaches and body aches when they awake after a night of interrupted sleep. They will be so stressed that they cannot even think straight and this will be a sign of sleep apnea. When a person wakes with a sore or dry throat, this may indicate to them that they are having a sleeping problem.
If a person has one of more of these symptoms, they should think about seeing a doctor to find out more. They may be suffering from this condition and it may require them to get treatment for it.
To get a good nights sleep please visit:www.disorders-sleep.info
Author Darren Mallory
C/O www.akashop.com

Child Sleep Apnea Might Result in Noticeably Lowered Iq Scores

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
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Though it has been known for some time that children who have sleep apnea often produce low scores on IQ tests (typically scoring about 85 against a score of 101 for children without sleep apnea) what we have not known until recently is that this results from chemical changes taking place in the brain. This means that a normally ‘smart’ kid might well turn in a run of the mill performance as a result of nothing more than a sleep disorder which can be quite easily treated in the majority of instances.

In a study which was conducted at the Hopkin’s Children’s Centre in Baltimore 31 children between the ages of 6 and 16 (19 of whom suffered from severe sleep apnea) were examined with a form or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and it was found that the children suffering from sleep apnea displayed considerable alterations in both the right frontal cortex and hippocampus – two sections of the human brain which are associated with learning and higher mental function. This same study also discovered that these children had altered levels of three chemicals in the brain that is indicative of brain damage.

This change in the chemistry of the brain brought about by sleep apnea could or could not be permanent and additional studies will be required to see whether or not this affect can be reversed. But, even if this problem can be reversed and the cognitive function and brain chemistry can be normalized, children with sleep apnea are going to continue to have a loss in learning as long as they are suffering from sleep apnea which is left untreated and they will certainly not be able to wind back the clock and recover this learning period.

Naturally parents should already be looking for signs of sleep apnea in their children however this latest study shows that an early diagnosis and treatment of this sleep disorder could have a very large affect on a child’s life.

The indicators of sleep apnea may include frequent pauses in breathing while sleeping which often produce an arousal from sleep and tossing and turning. Children might also show loud or labored breathing, snoring, coughing, gasping and, sometimes, bedwetting at an age when this phase should normally have passed. Parents could additionally notice a child sleeping in an unusual position, possibly with their bottom sticking up in the air and their head slanted backwards in an unwitting attempt to force their airway open.

In nearly all instances childhood sleep apnea can be treated by the surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids or of excess tissue from the back of the throat or nose. In addition, a CPAP (continuous positive airways pressure) machine may also be recommended to provide a child with a flow of air which is delivered through a mask worn while sleeping to maintain an open airway.

Sleep apnea is in itself debilitating for any child and the affects of a lengthy period of restless sleep will take its toll on your child. However, when you combine this with a reduction in a child’s IQ, it is crucial that you act at the earliest possible opportunity to see that this problem is diagnosed and then treated.

Having a Sleep Study to Determine Sleep Apnea

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

So many people are dealing with the problem of not getting enough sleep. For a lot of them, they have no idea why they are not getting the sleep that they want so badly. They are wandering why they are so tired in the morning even when they are going to bed at a decent time. Having a sleep study for sleep apnea is will benefit the person as well as help the scientists get a closer look at this problem and how to do treatment.
A sleep study is when a group of researchers will watch over the patient, as they are asleep. There will be monitors and gadgets to keep track of the way that the patient is breathing and their movements while they are sleeping. This will allow the scientists to better understand the disorder and what it does to the person’s body and ability to sleep.
For these people, they may have a disorder called sleep apnea. The best way to determine this problem is with a sleep study. For most people that have sleep apnea, they do not even know there is a problem like this occurring. They are unsure of the reason whey they are not getting enough rest and many times this problem goes undiscovered and untreated.
It can be hard to determine if a person needs to have a sleep study done. If a person snores, they may have sleep apnea. Lifestyle changes such as loosing weigh, sleeping on your side, and keeping a regular sleep schedule may reduce your snoring. If a person has symptoms of sleep apnea, the doctor may suggest a sleep study be done.
If a person knows that they have sleep apnea, there are ways to treat it. If a person has mild sleep apnea, treatments may not reduce your symptoms. If your sleep apnea is moderate to severe, treatment generally reduces symptoms of sleep apnea and may risk the increase of other complications.
These sleep studies are great for any person that is having a hard time sleeping and the problem is starting to affect their life. This problem can be devastating to their work and their relationships. Many people will have problems if they do not have the sleep apnea disorder taken treated. There are many doctors that would be very helpful to people in this type of situation and will use the sleep study to make the person feel better and get more sleep.
Author Darren Mallory
If you are having trouple sleeping please visit disorders-sleep.info

What Happens When a Person Has Sleep Apnea?

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

Sleep apnea is a very common disorder that can be serious in some cases. When a person is suffering from sleep apnea, their breathing is going to stop and get very shallow while they are sleeping. With each pause of breath, it will usually last up to twenty seconds or more. These pauses can occur twenty to thirty or even more times an hour.
The most usually form of sleep apnea is the obstructive kind. This is when enough air cannot flow into a person’s lungs through their mouth and nose even though they are trying to breathe. When this is the case, the amount of oxygen in the blood may drop. Normal breaths then start again with a loud snoring or choking sound.
When a person’s sleep is disturbed during the night, it can mean that the next day may be tough to get through. This means that it may be harder for the person to have a good work or school day because of the lack of sleep that they got the night before due to the constant disturbance of sleep. You need a restful sleep in order to be completely rested and relaxed.
The people that have to deal with sleep apnea will often find themselves snoring. This is not always true for everyone. Some people with sleep apnea do not even know that they are snoring. Sleep apnea happens more often in people who are over weight however; there are many thinner people that have to take on this challenge as well.
There are a lot of people that do not know they have sleep apnea. They do not realize that this is why they are not feeling rested in the morning. Usually the only way that this problem is noticed is by a loved one or family member that sees the signs first hand while the person is sleeping. This is the best way to see first hand what the problem is and why the person is so tired in the morning.
When a person has sleep apnea, it is important that they get help. They need to find treatment so that they are not at risk for more health problems. Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, heart attack or even a stroke. Sleep apnea can also increase a person’s risk of diabetes and even accidents on the road while driving or at work. These accidents can happen due to the person being tired and having a hard time concentrating or actually falling asleep.
To get a good nights sleep please visit:www.disorders-sleep.info
Author Darren Mallory
C/O www.akashop.com

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Posted by Apnea
Categorized Under: Sleep Apnea
Dated: 13 Nov 2009
Comments: 0

Severe obstructive sleep apnea is one of the many sleep disorders that several individuals worldwide suffer from. This medical condition results when there is an obstruction that interferes with breathing during the time in which a person attempts to rest. As a result of the apnea, the individual may experiences breathing that is considered to be shallow. In more serious cases of the condition, the same person may quit breathing completely. The area that experiences the obstruction is the airway located towards the upper part of the body. The blockage may be considered partial, or it may be considered complete. In this guide, you will be introduced to this form of sleep apnea. The Symptoms of Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are many symptoms associated with this type of sleep apnea. Though this is actually considered to be the most common when it comes to apnea based sleep disorders, it can cause many complications both physiologically and psychologically. In the following detailed list, you will learn about symptoms that may be noticed prior and immediately after a diagnosis: 

If you or someone that you know experiences any or all of the symptoms listed here, it is absolutely essential that medical consultation is arranged.

Developmental Risks

While no one is immune to developing severe obstructive sleep apnea, there are certain risk factors that may result in the onset of this particular condition. There are over twelve million documented cases of this condition in the United States alone, which means medical professionals and those that specialize in learning information about sleep disorders have been able to profile those that have the condition, learning a lot about the developmental risks associated with it. While men, women, and children have all been diagnosed, there are certain risks that make certain individuals more susceptible to suffering from this condition. They include:  

Conclusion

Severe obstructive sleep apnea is just one of many sleep disorders that millions of people worldwide suffer from. It is a direct result of a type of obstruction in the upper section of the airways. There are a large number of symptoms that may indicate that one suffers from this condition, such as snoring and waking up in such a way that it feels as if the patient is choking or gasping for air. There are many risk factors which involve smoking and aging. If you or someone that you know feels as if sleep apnea caused by a severe obstruction may be a complication, it is important to consult with a medical professional for an appropriate diagnosis.