What is Sleep Apnea and what are the symptoms?

Apnea means to stop breathing; therefore, Sleep Apnea means to stop breathing while you are sleeping. We all will stop breathing for 1 to 2 seconds at a time throughout the night so the measurement for Sleep Apnea does not begin until 10 seconds or longer for each event.

The most common and obvious symptom of Sleep Apnea is snoring however there are many symptoms that most people are not aware of and might not seem as obvious. If a person has TMJ issues and/or clenching and grinding of their teeth at night, that can be a sign of potential Sleep Apnea. Studies have found a correlation between Sleep Apnea and many health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, mental health concerns and even gastrointestinal conditions.

The National Sleep Foundation reports that as much as 20% of the population has Sleep Apnea and as much as 85% of those people are not aware they have it.

While there is a greater risk of Sleep Apnea in men, people with larger neck sizes, larger tongues and age being a contributing factor, that does not mean that they are the only ones suffering with Sleep Apnea. Women who have gone through menopause are at a greater risk. Even children are diagnosed with Sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea can be connected to many health concerns for many different reasons. Once major concern is the over-abundance of Cortisol, the stress hormone, which is released each time you stop breathing. Too much cortisol can make it harder for insulin to work properly, known as insulin resistance and leads to Type 2 Diabetes and weight gain.

Untreated Sleep Apnea can also lead to cardiovascular disease, stroke, traffic accidents and ultimately death.

OSA is caused by the airway being obstructed typically from the jaw and tongue relaxing to the back of the throat while sleeping thus blocking the airway.

Central Sleep Apnea is a rare neurological disorder that is caused by a disconnect in communication between the brain and the muscles that control your breathing. It is calculated that only about .9% of the people with Sleep Apnea have this form of sleep related disordered breathing.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome is a form of Sleep Apnea characterized by Central Sleep Apnea events emerging during and from Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment specifically with the use of CPAP therapy. There are many theories to the cause of this disorder some being the increased elimination of carbon dioxide from the body which can trigger Central Apneas, mask air leaks causing a sudden drop in CO2 levels triggering Central Apneas and Loop Gain which is the body overacting to the changes in breathing causing a pattern alternating between deep breathing and pauses in breathing. It is estimated that up to 20% of those in CPAP therapy for OSA develop complex sleep apnea.

CPAP therapy is a machine that uses air pressure to keep the airways open while you are sleeping. The success rate, IF you use your CPAP machine regularly and can tolerate this form of treatment, is 80%. The best treatment is the treatment that a patient will actually continue; therefore, a patient’s tolerance to CPAP therapy should be considered when making the decision to continue with this form of treatment for Sleep Apnea.

The National Institute of Health as well as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine consider Oral Appliance Therapy as the first line treatment recommendation for people diagnosed with Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The oral appliance is a custom fit appliance that incrementally brings forward the lower jaw keeping the tongue from being able to obstruct the airway while sleeping. Oral Appliance Therapy is less invasive than CPAP and surgery.

There are several surgeries for the treatment of Sleep Apnea with Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation being the most common. This surgery consists of a breathing sensor and a stimulator that is battery powered to be implanted as an out-patient procedure. The system stimulates the main airway muscles and moves the tongue out of the airway.

There is no cure for Sleep Apnea however lifestyle changes can help to mitigate the severity of the symptoms such as weight loss relieving pressure on the airway, raising your head during sleep can counter gravity so that the jaw and tongue do not obstruct the airway as severely as laying flat as well as getting regular physical activity, limiting alcohol consumption and caffeine intake are other methods of sleep hygiene that will help to manage OSA symptoms.

We at Sleep Apnea Options have streamlined the process in getting diagnosed for Sleep Apnea for our patients and potential patients. Your primary care physician or other clinical medical professionals can send a referral to our office for a complimentary consultation. We can then refer you to get a HOME Sleep Study that is interpreted by Board Certified Sleep Physicians. Once they have completed your diagnosis, we will work with you and your insurance company to cover the costs of Oral Appliance Therapy and make it affordable for you.

If you already have had a sleep study in the last 12 months we can utilize those results and diagnosis to start treatment.

If You Have Sleep Apnea, We Have Options!

Embark on a journey towards restful sleep by exploring the diverse range of solutions at your disposal. From innovative devices to personalized treatment plans, empower yourself to overcome the challenges of sleep apnea. Take the first step towards a revitalized lifestyle and embrace the promise of rejuvenating sleep.