If you’re wondering why you or your partner snores a lot, there’s a good chance that the issue could be sleep apnea. Sleep apnea affects up to 18 million Americans according to the National Sleep Foundation, and many of them don’t even know it. Find out all you need to know about sleep apnea treatment at Parker Dentistry in Hollywood, FL.

What Is Sleep Apnea?
Many cases of loud and uncontrollable snoring at night are caused by undiagnosed sleep apnea. This is a condition that makes it difficult for air to make its way smoothly through the breathing passageways. The muscles located at the back of the mouth allow tissue to cover the passageway when you’re sleeping. You may wake up dozens of times per hour, due to the lack of air, but don’t realize it.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
There are a few signals or symptoms that you may need sleep apnea treatment. Here are the most common signs:

- Tiredness even after 8 hours of sleep.
- Falling asleep in the middle of the day.
- Chronic, unexplained fatigue.
- Reports from a partner of loud snoring and frequent wake-ups.
- Confusion and memory problems during the day.

Sleep Apnea Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea by a sleep specialist, you may be wondering what can be done to treat your condition. One option is a custom oral appliance that can be created for you at the dentist’s office. It helps move the jaw and tongue into a more favorable position while sleeping. When you wear this device at night, it helps keep the passageway open so that you can breathe. It may be a preferred alternative to a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which is uncomfortable for some patients to wear when they’re sleeping.

No More Trouble Sleeping
After a couple of visits to Parker Dentistry in Hollywood, FL, you'll have a custom sleep apnea device you can wear at night that will allow you to sleep with minimal snoring and interruptions. Call 954-983-5450 today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stephen Parker or Dr. Blake Parker.

Before we wrap up this mini-series on sleep apnea, we thought it would be a good idea to go back and briefly review what we’ve shared over the past several weeks. You can, of course and always, go back and read any of our previously posted articles relating to sleep apnea or other health and wellness concerns that we have covered.

Sleep apnea is a common and progressive sleep disorder that is affecting millions of Americans. Sleep apnea is a momentary cessation of breathing while one is asleep. These cessations can range in frequency and length. There are two main types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA); some people suffer from both types. OSA is caused by an obstruction in the airway. Central sleep apnea is caused by a miscommunication between the brain and the respiratory system. OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea.

Symptoms and causes will vary between individuals and also depends upon the specific type of sleep apnea one is diagnosed. Common symptoms may include excessive and disruptive snoring, abruptly waking with shortness of breath, daytime drowsiness, morning headaches, and irregular changes in mood or behavior. Individuals who are overweight and over 40 are at a higher risk of suffering from OSA. Allergies, family history, smoking, and drinking also increases your chances. CSA is often caused by heart failure, obesity, stroke, brain infection, Parkinson’s disease, and or from certain painkillers.

Parker Dentistry is working out the logistics of providing our patients with a more convenient method of diagnosis. We do offer a pre-screening and are equipped and experienced in making oral appliances to help treat sleep apnea, should that be your treatment path. However, in the meantime (we will of course keep you updated on our progress in this department), your general physician needs to complete a physical examination and questionnaire to determine if you need to proceed to taking a polysommogram, which is a test completed at a sleep laboratory. A sleep specialist will then read your results and make a diagnosis. Dr. Steve is highly knowledgeable about sleep apnea and can help answer any of your questions or concerns, as well as provide you with any additional information that you seek in order to start your diagnosis and treatment process. Just ask!

Once diagnosed, there are two main types of treatments. A CPAP device or an oral appliance. Oral appliances are best for mild to moderate causes, or for those who are not comfortable using a CPAP device. Dr. Steve and Dr. Blake can make your custom oral appliance.

For more detailed information regarding types, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, take a quick peak back at the individual articles written for each of these topics on our blog. So, what are the risks of leaving sleep apnea untreated?

The possible risks and consequences of ignoring this sleep disorder include the following:

Heart disease

Increased risk of stroke

Type 2 diabetes

Increased blood pressure

Weight gain

Adult asthma

Acid reflux

Daytime fatigue

Liver problems

Sleep-deprived partners

Don’t wait another day! Don’t have another unrestful sleep! Step one is usually the hardest step; recognizing and admitting that you have an issue. The road to diagnosis and treatment is a fairly easy one that can make a world of a difference in your life and overall health and happiness. Take the first step today! 

The logical next step following your diagnosis of sleep apnea is to explore your treatment options.  There are two main sleep apnea treatment options that both have a variety of sub-options, depending upon the specific type of sleep apnea that you are diagnosed with and your current severity level. Remember that sleep apnea is a progressive health condition, if left without treatment. It is important that you seek the proper treatment following your diagnosis. The sooner you find a method that works for your specific health needs and comfort level, the sooner you will find yourself sleeping well and waking more rested.

If you are suffering with severe sleep apnea, you will likely be advised to use a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device as your first line of treatment. This is a fitted mask that is hooked up to a machine that supplies a continuous flow of pressurized air. This pressurized air helps keep the airways from collapsing during sleep. Positive airway pressure devices are a widely used method of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. There are a variety of models that either provide a continuous flow of pressurized air or that offer adjustable pressure levels.

The second types of treatment, and one that is growing in popularity, is an oral appliance. “Oral appliances are similar to orthodontic retainers and mouth guards but they are specifically designed to prevent the collapse of the airway during sleep by repositioning and stabilizing the mandible (lower jaw), the jaw muscles, the tongue, soft palate, and/or uvula. The primary type of appliance used is a MAD or Mandibular Advancement Device that brings the lower jaw forward using the upper jaw as an anchor. This also brings the tongue forward and tightens the pharyngeal walls and soft palate. The tongue-retaining device uses suction to bring the tongue and jaw forward” (Shapira, 2007).

Oral appliances are best suited for those who suffer from mild to moderate OSA or who are not comfortable using a CPAP device. Dr. Steve can custom design and fit the perfect oral appliance for you. He has the advanced skills and expertise to create and monitor your specific treatment plan using an oral appliance. Don’t suffer through any more drowsy days! Talk to Dr. Steve or Dr. Blake today about how Parker Dentistry can help you combat this common sleep and health disorder.

Shapira, D. B. (2007). Oral Appliances vrs CPAP, Shapira - Sleep and Health Journal. Retrieved November 03, 2016, from http://www.sleepandhealth.com/oral-appliances-vrs-cpap-shapira/

Sleep apnea is a chronic and progressive health condition and sleeping disorder that is affecting millions of Americans every year. It is not something that should be taken lightly, as the repercussions of untreated sleep apnea can be severe and even life threatening. Fortunately, there are various treatment options that can greatly improve your quality of sleep and lower the risk of certain health complications. Before we move forward to discuss diagnostic and treatment methods, we would like to share with you some perspective altering statistics about sleep apnea.

Statistic from http://www.sleepdisordersguide.com/article/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea-statistics-the-statistics-of-sleep-apnea

• Sleep apnea is prevalent in as many as an estimated 18 million Americans alone. This statistic denotes that approximately 1 in every 15 Americans, or 6.62% of the total American population have a case of sleep apnea.
• Research conducted at the University of California’s San Diego campus studied 54 African Americans and 346 Caucasians for the presence of sleep apnea. The results showed that a full 17 percent of African American test subjects had a case of obstructive sleep apnea present, compared to 8 percent of the Caucasian subjects. This denotes a hypothesis that African Americans stand an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
• Two to four percent of all Americans have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea. This accounts for approximately 1 in 50 individuals being undiagnosed.
• People that are afflicted with sleep apnea face a steep increase in chances of being part of a traffic accident. Due to the sleeplessness and lack of ability to concentrate that are associated with apnea, sufferers are six times more likely to die in a car accident. As a matter of fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has stated that drowsy driving is responsible for, at the very least, 100,000 car accidents, 40,000 injuries, and 1,550 deaths per year.
• More than 263,000 children per year undergo tonsillectomies. Most of these operations are performed due to the presence of sleep apnea in the children that is caused by the tonsils obstructing their air way.
• A bed mate of a person with untreated obstructive sleep apnea can lose a serious amount of sleep! Due to the breathing and gasping of the apnea sufferer, the bed mate loses up to an hour per night of sleep. This was discovered when a study was conducted that measured the effects of CPAP treatment in helping the bed mate to sleep.
• People that have an untreated case of sleep apnea face a risk of stroke that is four times as likely as those who are not afflicted. Untreated sleep apnea sufferers are also three times as likely to have heart disease.
• On the average night’s sleep, a sufferer of obstructive sleep apnea may experience 60 apneas per hour. This accounts for an average of 400 apneas per night!
• Roughly half of all hospital patients that have a case of hypertension are also afflicted with sleep apnea. Conversely, around half of all sleep apnea sufferers face a diagnosis of hypertension.
• According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, approximately 38,000 deaths occur on an annual basis that relate to cardiovascular problems that in one way or another are connected to sleep apnea. These problems include high blood pressure, hypertension and stroke, among others. An estimated six million American residents suffer from sleep apnea that is moderate to severe and may necessitate a late night visit to the emergency room. Unfortunately a great many people do not, as previously mentioned, even realize that they suffer from sleep apnea. This number is somewhere around 500,000 individuals.

The more informed that you are, the better suited you will be to take control of your health in the best way possible. Your health is in your hands and we want to help you take hold of it. 

It is estimated that nearly 18 million Americans or 1 in every 15 people suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious and chronic health condition that is also progressive, which means that it can get worse with time if left untreated. It is categorized as a sleeping disorder. Sleep apnea, in its simplest definition, is when one’s breathing is interrupted while sleeping. The cessation of breathing can last anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds and in severe cases can occur 400 times in a single night!

Sadly, a lot people go undiagnosed because they are unaware that they are even suffering with this condition. In a great deal cases, it is an outside party that realizes a loved one has a problem. The reason you have restless sleeps, groggy and tiresome days, and find yourself irritable, lacking energy, unfocused, and unmotivated might be linked to sleep apnea. It is such a common disorder that it is commonly overlooked as the culprit.

There are three main types of sleep apnea.

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (mild, moderate, and severe)
2. Central Sleep Apnea
3. Mixed/Complex Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when there is a partial or complete block in one’s airway while one is sleeping. When you go to sleep and your body relaxes, your throat muscles also relax, which allow your tongue and surrounding soft tissues to fall back. This can cause an obstruction and the restriction of airflow. Your brain sends out a signal that your body needs to breathe (thank goodness it does this!). Typically, one suffering some OSA will wake up grasping for air. Once sufficient air is circulating back through the body again, this vicious cycle will tend to repeat itself through the night. 

Central sleep apnea is different from OSA in that there is no obstruction of the airway, but rather a lack of signal from the brain instructing the muscles that are responsible for breathing to perform properly. This is related to an instable respiratory center. CSA is much less common than OSA, but nonetheless dangerous. Oftentimes, other medical conditions are responsible for central sleep apnea.

Mixed/complex sleep apnea is when one suffers from both obstructive sleep apnea AND central sleep apnea.

In the coming weeks, we will dive deeper into this common sleep disorder by looking at symptoms and causes, shocking statistics, diagnostic methods, treatment options, and the consequences of not receiving proper and timely treatment.