Sleep Apnea Houston Texas
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition
in which an individual repeatedly stops breathing while he or she
sleeps..
The most common type of sleep apnea is Obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway. The
upper airway may become obstructed by excess tissue in the airway.
The obstruction may be located in the nasal passages, or the
structure of the jaw and airway may be the cause of sleep apnea.
What causes sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea has a number of causes. Sleep apnea is usually caused
by mechanical and structural problems in the airway that interrupt
breathing while you sleep. In other cases, sleep apnea may occur
because the throat muscles and tongue relax while you sleep and
block the airway. In obese individuals, sleep apnea may be caused by
the narrowing of the airway, due to the excess amounts of tissue in
the throat and neck.
Am I at risk for sleep apnea?
Virtually anyone can develop sleep apnea. It is estimated that
over 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. However, sleep apnea is
more often found in men than women. Individuals who snore loudly,
are overweight, or have high blood pressure are at the highest risk.
Some studies suggest that sleep apnea may also be hereditary.
If I snore, does that mean I have sleep apnea?
Snoring occurs when your throat muscles relax to the point where
the airway is narrowed and partially obstructed. As the air passes
through the obstruction, the structures in the throat vibrate and
produce snoring.
Although snoring is a strong indication of sleep apnea, the two
are not necessarily synonymous. If you snore, you may want to
contact an experienced sleep apnea doctor.
How is normal breathing restored during sleep?
During an apneic event, your body experiences an increased amount
of carbon dioxide and a decrease in oxygen. This alerts the brain to
open the airways. This alert is usually accompanied by a snort or
gasp. These arousals can prevent you from getting a good night's
sleep. Many patients awake 40-60 times an hour due to apnea but are
unaware of this upon awakening in the morning.
What are the effects of sleep apnea?
The number one effect of sleep apnea is a lack of quality sleep.
This can lead to simple problems such as drowsiness during the day
or trouble concentrating to more serious problems such as memory
loss, depression, or suicide.
How is sleep apnea treated?
Mild sleep apnea may be treated with minor behavioral
adjustments, such as sleeping on your side or losing weight. Oral
appliances or CPAP help many sleep apnea sufferers from the
symptoms of snoring and paused breathing. More severe sleep apnea
may require surgery by ENT or oral surgeon.
Does obstructive sleep apnea require surgery?
Sleep apnea dentists can correct obstructive sleep apnea without
surgery by using an oral appliance. Oral appliance therapy
repositions the lower jaw and tongue keeping the airway open and
reducing or eliminating apneic events. The oral appliance is molded
to the inside of your mouth and worn at night. The oral appliance
may be made adjustable to gradually move the jaw forward.
So, if I use a nasal CPAP, do I still need surgery?
Statistics show that CPAP success rates are high, but only for
patients who follow through with treatment and carefully follow
instructions. Studies have shown only 23-45% of patents are
successful with CPAP. Use of CPAP offers a temporary solution, and
some patients prefer to treat their apnea permanently with sleep
apnea surgery. Patients who do not want to commit to wearing the
CPAP long-term should consider oral appliance therapy before
resorting to surgery.
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