SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT Worcester Ma

What is Sleep Apnea?

Do you snore at night? Some people with sleep apnea dismiss snoring as no big deal or annoying at most, but snoring could be a sign of a serious health problem. Snoring often occurs when the upper airway is obstructed during sleep. This prevents air from entering the lungs, which causes breaks in a person’s breathing patterns.

As a result, the person may wake up dozens of times during the night and quickly go back to sleep, without even knowing it. Sleep apnea is a serious issue. It can leave you extremely tired during the day. You may feel drowsy and unproductive. You may lack concentration and have problems with memory.

What are the common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Frequent, loud snoring
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Chronic exhaustion even after a full night’s sleep
Gasping, choking or snorting during sleep
Morning headaches
Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Insomnia
High blood pressure
Poor memory, moodiness or difficulty concentrating
Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat

Is sleep apnea deadly?

Sleep apnea can lead to serious medical conditions such as heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It can also annoy your bed partner and ruin their sleep as well. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to death. Sadly, many people have stopped breathing in their sleep. Tens of thousands of people die every year due to health problems enhanced by sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can afflict men and women of all ages. Overweight men and menopausal women face the highest risk. If you snore, you could be at risk. Contact Dr. Gobran today to get tested and treated for sleep apnea. Your health depends on it.

Treatment

You may have heard of CPAP. A continuous positive airway pressure machine uses a mask to deliver air pressure while you sleep. This keeps the passages in your upper airway open, preventing snoring. CPAP is very effective and works well for even the most severe cases of sleep apnea, which is why it is the most common form of treatment.

However, the biggest downside is that it can be very uncomfortable. The mask is strapped around your head, and if you’re a light sleeper, you may not be able to sleep well with it. With practice and patience, you can make it work by adjusting the straps so that they are tight but comfortable.

However, if you have tried to use the CPAP mask and you still cannot sleep well, don’t give up. Talk to your cpap doctors or dentist about other options. There are other devices you can use that may be more comfortable. Many people prefer oral appliances, which open your throat and promote more effective breathing. If other treatments have failed, surgery may be an option. Procedures such as tissue removal, jaw repositioning, implants, and nerve stimulation can help open up the airways and eliminate snoring.

Oral Appliance Therapy

A Convenient Alternative to CPAP

For patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, dental appliances or oral mandibular advancement devices can be made. It resembles a mouth guard used by athletes.

These can prevent the tongue from blocking the throat and/or advance the lower jaw forward. These devices help keep the airway open during sleep. A sleep specialist and dentist with expertise in oral appliances for this purpose should jointly determine if this treatment is best for you.

Contact Us Today

If you snore while asleep at night, you might have sleep apnea. This condition can be deadly if not treated, so see your dentist soon for help. Sleep apnea can be treated in various ways. If you have tried a CPAP machine in the past and found it uncomfortable, we can help you treat this condition.

Contact Dr. Gobran’s office today to schedule an examination. Call (508) 753-3200 or fill out the online form. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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FAQ’S

If I snore, do I have sleep apnea?

Snoring frequently accompanies sleep apnea but it is not always an indicator of whether this sleep condition is present. However, snoring can indicate that bulky throat tissue could potentially obstruct airways – especially if patients have certain lifestyle factors that contribute to sleep apnea. Fortunately, the treatment we offer for sleep apnea and snoring is the same. By prescribing a custom oral appliance, the diameter of the airway can be widened to prevent the sounds of snoring as well as episodes of apnea. These oral appliances are soft and comfortable to wear. They work by positioning the lower jaw slightly forward so that the airway is no longer obstructed.

Is it possible that I have sleep apnea even if I don't snore?

Anyone of any age can have sleep apnea. Even though snoring can accompany sleep apnea, it is not always a symptom of this sleep disorder. For this reason, it is important to have a sleep study conducted to determine if apnea is occurring.

What causes sleep apnea?

The exact cause of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is different for each person. Anyone can develop it, regardless of age or gender. The most common risk factors include:

Being over age 40
Having a large neck (over 17 inches in men, 16 inches for women)
Being overweight – approximately half of OSA sufferers are overweight
Being male – more men than women suffer from OSA
Having a large tongue or small jaw
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids (particularly in children)
Using alcohol or sedatives which relax the muscles in the airway
Nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum or sinus and allergy problems