Obstructive Sleep Apnea and What You Should Know about It

Are you waking up frequently throughout the night gasping for air? Is your sleep partner complaining about your chronic and loud snoring every night? If either of these sounds familiar to you, then you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.

 

While these symptoms are especially common with obstructive sleep apnea, there are many times that people are unaware of their sleep apnea at all. Obstructive sleep apnea is actually a serious medical condition that causes a cessation in breathing while the person is asleep. Most commonly, the  causes of sleep apnea  are due to a large tongue, excessive tissue in the back of the throat, obesity, or an enlarged uvula or tonsils. When the muscles located in the back of the throat relax during sleep, then the blockage occurs. The ceasing in breathing can occur between five and 100 times per every hour of sleep. This takes a large toll on the body function and the brain, as there is a lack of oxygen going to these areas. Since the body is being restricted of its oxygen, the risks of untreated obstructive sleep apnea are very high. If you let sleep apnea go untreated, eventually it can result in health problems, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, stroke, diabetes, and even depression.

 

Diagnosing the sleep apnea is the first step in treating it. You can create a sleep journal recording the number of times you awaken throughout the night and any symptoms you may have while you are coherent. Bring these records to the sleep apnea dentists in Los Angeles or a general physician who is trained in sleep apnea to discuss your possibilities. If they agree that you may be suffering from this disorder, they will then send you to a sleep center for proper diagnoses through a sleep study.

 

Depending on the diagnosis of your sleep apnea, treatment can have a wide range of options. For those suffering from mild to moderate apnea, a mouthpiece or oral appliance can be custom-made for you to wear while you sleep. These devices position the lower jaw forward and hold it in place as a way to force the airways open. For the treatment of moderate to severe OSA, a continuous positive airway pressure machine, also called CPAP therapy, is considered the most effective.

 

For more need-to-know information on obstructive sleep apnea, contact our dentists to schedule a consultation.