Put an end to snoring and those sleepless nights.

Most people have heard of sleep apnea, but many don’t quite know what it is, why it happens, and how to  treat it. Misconceptions about this condition point to it being a very obvious sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing, but in reality, sleep apnea is shockingly common and often goes undiagnosed due to its subtle symptoms.

If you’re a snorer that finds it difficult to sleep through the night or feel as though you can never get enough sleep, you could have obstructive sleep apnea.

What are the different types of this condition?

Sleep apnea is a form of sleep-disordered breathing encompassing three specific types:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of this condition. It’s caused by soft tissues in the back of the throat falling inward and blocking the airway when inhaling.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea is much less common than OSA. It’s caused by a problem with the brain not sending normal signals to control breathing while asleep. For this reason, snoring is not a symptom of central sleep apnea.

Complex Sleep Apnea

The rarest form of sleep apnea is complex or mixed sleep apnea. It’s a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.

Why is obstructive sleep apnea most common?

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common simply because many lifestyle and health factors can activate the condition. For example, obesity is strongly linked to the growing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea, which has risen to 25 million adults in the U.S. However, some people can be a healthy weight and fit but still experience OSA because they naturally have more excess soft tissue. 

Lifestyle habits, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption also coincide with a heightened risk of this condition. Certain medications and several systematic health conditions, like heart disease, can also contribute to OSA symptoms. Even something as simple as sleeping on your back can trigger snoring and poor breathing.

What are the most prevalent symptoms of OSA?

These symptoms often accompany obstructive sleep apnea:

• Chronic snoring that’s often quite loud
• Episodes of stopped breathing, observed either by you or a partner
• Daytime sleepiness, despite getting eight hours of rest
• Waking up suddenly during the night for no apparent reason
• Waking up out of breath, gasping, or coughing
• Chronic morning headaches
• Chronic morning dry mouth or a scratchy throat
• Trouble focusing on normal daily tasks
• Irritability and moodiness from a lack of sleep
• High blood pressure with no apparent medical cause

If you suspect you have OSA or another form of sleep-disordered breathing, it’s important to get a professional diagnosis. Do not attempt home remedies or store-bought snore guards.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed, and by who?

Sleep apnea can be diagnosed in two ways:

Nocturnal Polysomnography

Polysomnography, also called a sleep study, is used to diagnose all forms of sleep apnea and other sleep-disordered breathing conditions. You’ll visit a hospital or dedicated sleep center where you’ll be fully monitored while you sleep. Non-invasive testing machines record brain wave activity, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breath rate, and even eye and body movement.

Home Sleep Testing

Home sleep testing, or a home sleep study, is an alternative to polysomnography if a doctor strongly suspects a person has obstructive sleep apnea. A home sleep study uses simplified testing but is very accurate for OSA. However, it can’t be used for diagnosing central or complex as the testing methods can’t measure brain waves.

A medical doctor is the only person who can professionally diagnose this condtion. The doctor may be a GP or a specialist, such as a pulmonologist or a neurologist. Some doctors also strictly specialize in sleep disorders, which is typically the case for sleep centers.

How is obstructive sleep apnea treated?

Obstructive sleep apnea treatment is usually very successful at managing the symptoms. Most sleep specialists will recommend professional treatment as well as lifestyle changes that can improve a person’s breathing.

CPAP Therapy

CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure therapy, uses a machine and mask combo that gently delivers pressured air while you sleep. The pressured air doesn’t disrupt normal breathing but does offer just enough pressure to keep the airway open. 

Oral Appliances

Oral appliances are the most popular alternative to CPAP machines. These devices are customized to fit a person’s natural bite alignment and work by keeping the lower jaw in a forward position to stop the soft tissues from relaxing into the airway. Some devices also help prevent the tongue from slipping back when at rest. Oral appliances are best suited for treating mild-to-moderate cases. 

Lifestyle and Health

Maintaining a healthy weight and taking great care of your overall health is important in successfully managing obstructive sleep apnea. Stopping the use of tobacco and frequent alcoholic beverages is also strongly recommended.

Before making any major lifestyle changes, always speak with your primary care physician (PCP) first. Activities like quitting alcohol or losing excess weight sound great, but sudden changes like these can be a shock to your system if you have underlying medical conditions.

Oral Surgery

Surgery may be necessary if CPAP therapy or oral appliances aren’t effective. A doctor or dentist can remove excess soft tissue to tighten the airway and reduce or completely stop the obstruction you’re experiencing at night.

Manage your obstructive sleep apnea at Orchard Dental Associates.

Orchard Dental Associates is home to the best general and family dentists near Corpus Christi, TX. In addition to comprehensive dentistry solutions and the latest advancements in technology, we also provide several solutions for treating obstructive sleep apnea.

After you’ve received your official diagnosis from a doctor, we’ll evaluate the findings and perform an examination of your oral and facial anatomy. For most cases, we can fit you with a customized oral appliance. We also provide high-tech laser therapy to reduce excess soft tissue in more complicated cases.

Schedule your consultation today to put an end to your snoring and daytime fatigue.