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About Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine 
Obstructive sleep apnea is very common and potentially life-threatening medical disorder that prevents airflow during sleep. More than 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, and many are not receiving treatment.

Sleep apnea occurs when tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway, reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to all of your organs including your heart and brain. People with sleep apnea may snore loudly and stop breathing for short periods of time. When the blood-oxygen level drops low enough, the body momentarily wakes up. It can happen so fast that you may not be aware you woke up. This can happen hundreds of times a night, and you may wake up in the morning feeling unrefreshed.

In addition to snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea can cause memory loss, morning headaches, irritability, depression, decreased sex drive and impaired concentration. Sleep apnea patients have a much higher risk of diabetes, stroke and heart problems, such as heart attack, congestive heart failure and hypertension. Sleep apnea patients are also more likely to be involved in an accident at the workplace or while driving.

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Signs of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea patient are often older, obese and have thick necks, but men and women of any age or body type can have sleep apnea. The sleep disorder progressively worsens with age and weight gain. Listed below are some common signs of sleep apnea:

  • Unintentionally falling asleep during the day
  • General daytime sleepiness
  • Unrefreshed sleep
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Waking from sleep with a choking sound or gasping for breath
  • Loud snoring

If you have these symptoms, you might have sleep apnea. Schedule an appointment at an AASM Accredited Sleep Center for an overnight sleep study.

 

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

A physician is required to perform an overnight sleep study to properly diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. The test, also known as a Polysomnogram, will chart your brain waves, heart beat and breathing during sleep. It also records arm and leg movement.

A sleep specialist will look for other conditions that may mimic or worsen the symptoms of OSA, such as:

  • Another sleep disorder
  • A medical condition
  • Medication use
  • A mental health disorder
  • Substance abuse

A sleep specialist will take your symptoms into consideration during diagnosis. Prior to the appointment, ask your partner if you snore loudly, stop breathing or gasp for breath during the night. The sleep specialist will also want to know if you gained weight or stopped exercising before your symptoms began.

The sleep specialist may ask you to keep a sleep diary for two weeks to track the following information.

What time you went to bed each night
What time you got up in the morning
How many times you woke up during the night
Whether you felt rested when you woke up
If you took naps during the day
Whether you felt sleepy or rested throughout the day

 

Treatment Options

Once you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a trained AADSM dental sleep specialist near you can provide treatment using the following methods:

Oral Appliance Therapy
CPAP Therapy
Upper Airway Surgery

These techniques may be used alone or in combination with other treatments for sleep apnea, including behavioral changes or CPAP. Behavioral therapies include weight loss, avoidance of alcohol and tobacco and sleeping on your side, and may reduce the severity of sleep apnea.

 

Epworth Test

In contrast to just feeling tired, how likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations? (This refers to your usual life in recent times. Even if you have not done some of these things recently, try to work out how they would have affected you).

Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:

    Sitting and reading (required)
    0 = Would never dose1 = Slight chance of dozing2 = Moderate chance of dozing3 = High chance of dozing

    Watching television (required)
    0 = Would never dose1 = Slight chance of dozing2 = Moderate chance of dozing3 = High chance of dozing

    Sitting inactive in a public place (i.e. theater) (required)
    0 = Would never dose1 = Slight chance of dozing2 = Moderate chance of dozing3 = High chance of dozing

    As a car passenger for an hour without a break (required)
    0 = Would never dose1 = Slight chance of dozing2 = Moderate chance of dozing3 = High chance of dozing

    Lying down to rest in the afternoon (required)
    0 = Would never dose1 = Slight chance of dozing2 = Moderate chance of dozing3 = High chance of dozing

    Sitting and talking to someone (required)
    0 = Would never dose1 = Slight chance of dozing2 = Moderate chance of dozing3 = High chance of dozing

    Sitting quietly after lunch without alcohol (required)
    0 = Would never dose1 = Slight chance of dozing2 = Moderate chance of dozing3 = High chance of dozing

    In a car, while stopping for a few minutes in traffic (required)
    0 = Would never dose1 = Slight chance of dozing2 = Moderate chance of dozing3 = High chance of dozing

    Click the submit button below and we will get back to you with your results!

    * A score of 6 or greater indicates the possibility of a sleep breathing disorder.