Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects millions of Americans. It occurs when breathing is blocked or partially blocked during sleep, causing your lungs to not receive enough oxygen. If left untreated, those who suffer from sleep apnea can experience significant health-related problems such as:
Our doctors are trained in sleep medicine to treat sleep apnea with the latest techniques to ensure you’re getting the care you need to restore your healthy, restful night’s sleep. Working in coordination with board certified sleep physicians, our doctors can create a comprehensive treatment plan just for you.
While excessive or disruptive snoring is the most common symptom, there are many other indicators that may signal you have sleep apnea:
Even though sleep apnea can affect anyone regardless of age, weight, and gender, these factors indicate a higher likelihood of having sleep apnea:
Public health and safety are threatened by the increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea, which now afflicts at least 25 million adults in the US, according to the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project. (AASM News Archive)
“Obstructive sleep apnea is destroying the health of millions of Americans, and the problem has only gotten worse over the past two decades”, American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler.
Findings from new studies emphasize the negative effects of sleep apnea on the brain and heart health: however, these health risks can be reduced through the effective treatment of sleep apnea. (AASM News Archive).
A person afflicted with untreated obstructive sleep apnea is up to 4 times more likely to have a stroke, as well as 3 times more likely to have heart disease.
Approximately 50% of all patients who have hypertension, or high blood pressure, are also afflicted with obstructive sleep apnea.
People suffering from OSA are as much as 6 times more likely to be involved in a car crash than those without sleep disorders. This is due to the fact that they are drowsy from lack of sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea causes hypertension, diabetes, high blood pressure and if left untreated, could reduce life expectancy by 10 years or more. With 95% of those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea undiagnosed, sleep apnea may be the number one cause of death.
Oral appliance therapy is used as an alternative to CPAP. It provides a non-invasive form of treatment that has a high level of compliance as it is comfortable, quiet, portable and effective. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, oral appliances are an appropriate 1st line treatment option for sleep apnea patient “with mild to moderate OSA who prefer them to CPAP, or who do not respond to…or who fail treatment attempts with CPAP”. Oral appliances are also the next best treatment option for severe sleep apnea patients who cannot or will not tolerate CPAP.
To learn more about Sleep Apnea, please reach out to our practice today.