Sleep Apnea doesn't have to keep you (or your partner) up at night!

Sleep Apnea - What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

Have you ever been kept awake by someone snoring and been annoyed that they disturbed your quality sleep? Or have you ever had someone complain that you have kept them awake by your own snoring? 

Well, loud snoring could have an underlying condition that not only disturbs the quality of sleep of others but also impacts the quality of sleep of the one snoring.

If you find you are waking up feeling unrested and know that you snore, obstructive sleep apnea could be a concern. While snoring is not the only symptom of sleep apnea, it is one of the most obvious ones that can help identify it. 

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly starts and stops throughout the night. It can result in loud snoring and episodes of not breathing or gasping for air during sleep. 

Other symptoms would be fatigue during the day after a full nights rest, dry mouth, or headache in the morning.  

There are different types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - the most common form, where throat muscles relax during sleep and completely block airflow 

• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) - less common form, where the brain fails to send appropriate breathing signals during the night

Who Is At Risk?

While anyone can have sleep apnea, there are certain factors that can increase your risk for it: 

• Age - risk increases with age

• Gender - males are at a higher risk

• Health conditions - such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, endocrine disorders 

• Obesity - increased fat deposits in the neck area can block airways

• Neck circumference - large tonsils or a neck circumference larger than 16 inches (women) or 17 inches (men)

• Large tongue - can block your airway

• Family history and genetics - determine the shape and size of your airway

• Lifestyle habits - drinking alcohol and smoking can increase inflammation of the throat and affect how the brain controls breathing during sleep

Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?

Breathing and sleep are two very important bodily functions that keep us alive. If we are not getting quality sleep or breathing properly, this can result in long term health issues. Untreated sleep apnea has been found to contribute or worsen high blood pressure, diabetes and insulin resistance, pulmonary hypertension, stroke, abnormal heart rhythms, and increases the risk of sudden cardiovascular death. If left untreated, prolonged fatigue from sleep apnea may also lead to complications with concentration, decision making, poor mood, or impaired memory due to which can increase the risk of accidents in daily life. 

Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

The most commonly known and reliable treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or BPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) machine, which is a mask attached to a machine that is worn over the mouth/nose during sleep and works to open the airways with higher pressure air.

While CPAP/BPAP are the most reliable treatment options, it can take some getting used to sleeping with and may not work for everyone. Another option that some may find easier to use than CPAP would be an oral device that is designed to keep the airways open. There are multiple different types of oral devices, so there is something that can work for everyone. 

What To Do If You Think You Have Sleep Apnea?

If you are concerned you may have sleep apnea or have a number of the symptoms, bring it up to either your primary healthcare provider or at your next dental appointment. Your dental hygienist or dentist can provide a sleep apnea screening and a referral to a sleep clinic if necessary. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea and choose that an oral device is your preferred route of treatment, your dentist will be able to go over the treatment options with you.