Have you been told that you snore, or perhaps you have a sleeping partner who snores loudly? While everyone occasionally snores, usually when they have a cold or allergies, persistent snoring can become more than just an annoyance. Sometimes it can be due to an issue called obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.
How Is OSA Different from Snoring?
Obstructive sleep apnea in Newcastle sounds different from ordinary snoring. Whereas snoring tends to be a continuous sound, OSA is punctuated by frequent pauses in breathing that can last for several seconds. These pauses in breathing continue until the brain registers the drop in oxygen levels, prompting the body to start rebreathing. Usually, breathing restarts with a loud snort or gasp. Although these pauses in breath aren’t enough to awaken the person with OSA completely, they do prevent them from reaching a level of deep, restorative sleep.
Consequently, they can awaken feeling ill-rested, tired and irritable. Without enough sleep, there is a higher risk of having an accident at work or while driving. A lack of sleep can also impact overall health, increasing the risk of problems like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes.
What Causes OSA?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs because the airway becomes blocked by soft tissue at the back of the throat. When you sleep, your throat muscles relax so your airway can collapse inwards and your tongue can fall backwards. As your throat muscles relax, it allows the soft tissues to vibrate, making that characteristic snoring sound during sleep.
Who Is Likely to Develop OSA?
Anyone can develop OSA, but it tends to affect more men than women, although, after menopause, women are more likely to develop this condition. Your risk is likely higher if you have a family history of snoring and sleep apnea in Clarington or are over age 40 and overweight. It can affect people with sinus problems, enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or a larger tongue.
What to Do If You Think You Have OSA?
If you think you have OSA, you might need a sleep study. You may need to spend the night at a sleep clinic during a sleep study so they can monitor your vital signs overnight. Sometimes it’s possible to use a device at home that monitors your sleep, although this may provide less data. The results of your sleep study can be analyzed to determine if you have sleep apnea and its degree of severity.
How to Treat Sleep Apnea?
Mild or moderate sleep apnea can often be treated with a sleep appliance in Courtice. This is a custom-made dental splint that we can fabricate here at West Bowmanville Family Dental. When you wear it, it helps to hold your lower jaw in a slightly forwards position, ensuring your airway remains open during sleep and helping to prevent your tongue from falling backwards.
What If I Have Severe Sleep Apnea?
Usually, the treatment for severe OSA is with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which has a mask fitting over your nose, pumping a continuous supply of pressurized air into your airway, helping to keep it open. Many different types of CPAP machines are available, so some are more comfortable than others. However, not everyone finds it easy to use these machines, and when this is the case, a sleep appliance is an alternative treatment as it is important to do something.
It can be helpful to avoid any triggers for OSA like smoking, drinking too much alcohol or caffeinated beverages. It can also help to maintain a healthy weight.