Sleep Apnea

Is Someone Keeping You Up at Night Due to Snoring or Sleep Apnea?

snoring sleep apneaSnoring on it’s own is not harmful but if it is a symptom of OSA or Obstructive Sleep Apnea it could be deadly.
Snoring is caused by air trying to get through a narrowed air passage in your throat while sleeping.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing or times of abnormally low breathing, while at sleep. Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last from a few seconds to minutes, and may occur 5 to 40 times or more an hour. Similarly, each abnormally low breathing event is called a hypopnea. These low or stopping of breathing cause your oxygen level in your blood to lower to a dangerous level. You are starving your heart, brain and other tissues of oxygen.

Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram, or “sleep study”. There are treatments ranging from dental appliances, which do not create aerosols,  for mild to moderate sleep apnea to wearing a CPAP mask while sleeping, which unfortunately creates aerosols and is not recommended,  to control the condition. There is also the possibility to regrow your airway to actually cure your sleep apnea. Give us a call if you are interested.

If untreated, you are at greater risk for:

  • A MVA from falling asleep driving
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart Disease
  • Obesity
  • Stroke
  • Death
Increases your risk for OSA:
  • A soft palate that is elongated
  • Large neck (17+” for men & 16+” for women)
  • Large tongue, which falls back & blocks the airway
  • Retruded or small chin
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    Is the CPAP not working for you or a loved one?

    Have you been diagnosed with OSA and do not wear your CPAP? You may be able to wear an Oral appliance.  Please Call us at 312-266-0044. If you or a loved one has any of these characteristics or you have witnessed OSA please give our office a call at 312-266-0044.

    For more information on Sleep Apnea.

     by Doc Brown on Widen Your Smile
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