Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep breathing disorder in which a person stops breathing in their sleep due to an obstructed airway. Check out this Sleep Apnea Infographic to find out more information about this disorder.
22 million Americans are affected. When you have this condition, your breath can become very shallow or you may even stop breathing briefly while you sleep. It can happen many times a night.
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when something partly or completely blocks your upper airway during shut-eye. That makes your diaphragm and chest muscles work harder to open the obstructed airway and pull air into the lungs. Breathing usually resumes with a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk.
The condition can also reduce the flow of oxygen to vital organs and cause irregular heart rhythms. If left untreated it may lead to 3 times more likely to experience heart disease. If you share a bed with someone, they’ll probably notice it before you do. So do not delay!
Can’t tolerate the CPAP? Dentists can help.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a machine that helps a person who has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) breathe more easily during sleep. It may take time for you to become comfortable with using CPAP. If you can’t get used to it, talk to your doctor. You might be able to try another type of treatment. When you are using CPAP, you need to see your doctor or sleep specialist regularly. You may also need more sleep studies to adjust the CPAP machine and check whether the treatment is working. The machines are expensive.
For best results, try custom oral appliances. It is an effective alternative when fitted and monitored by a qualified dentist. Another plus of using COA is that your health insurance can cover it.
For more information about oral appliances therapy for OSA visit snoringisntsexy.com and consult with a sleep apnea dentist near you.
