Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a potentially dangerous sleep ailment when breathing stops and starts several times while you're asleep. There are other forms of sleep apnea, but Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most prevalent one. It happens when the muscles in your throat relax and obstruct your airway as you sleep. - Definition from the Mayo Clinic
Danger Signs
There are many warning signs that may accompany OSA. Bed companions frequently report hearing people snoring and gasping or choking while they sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea may also result in other comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, weight gain, acid reflux, high blood pressure (hypertension), insomnolence (sleepiness) with lack of restorative sleep, and daily weariness and sleepiness. Though many of these health issues may not be directly related to OSA, the disease frequently makes them worse.
Treatment Options
The "Gold Standard" for treating sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. The CPAP machine's positive air pressure pushes the throat's relaxed muscles to stay open, facilitating easier airflow to the lungs through a nasal or full face mask. To accommodate each patient's unique needs, CPAP machines and face masks come in a variety of styles. Whether mask and CPAP machine is best for the patient can be determined with assistance from a Board Certified Sleep Physician. Unfortunately, poor patient compliance is a disadvantage of CPAP therapy.
Many people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea who find it uncomfortable to use CPAP machines can benefit greatly from Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT), often known as the "Mouthpiece" or Mandibular advancement Devices (MAD). By moving the mandible, or lower jaw, forward and opening the bite, or vertical dimension of occlusion, oral appliances function. In order to prevent the relaxed soft tissues in the back of the throat and the tongue from obstructing the airway to the lungs as you sleep, this keeps the jaw forward and locked in place.
The jaw can still move, but it cannot return to its resting posture where the soft tissues could collapse and impede breathing. The lower jaw opens the airway in this manner, facilitating uninterrupted breathing and continuous air passage. It is crucial to seek this type of treatment from a dentist who has completed training and qualifications in treating sleep problems. This way, the dentist can verify whether this therapy is the best fit for your specific sleeping issue. OAT is a recognized treatment for sleep apnea, hence it is covered by health insurance. The recommended course of treatment for many individuals with OSA is the use of a "mouthpiece," which is far more widely accepted and adhered to.
Alcohol and prescription medications are frequently thought of as simple solutions to sleep disorders, but they may actually make matters worse. Alcohol can undoubtedly make sleep apnea worse by loosening the delicate tissues in the back of the throat that are obstructive. It doesn't provide a fix. Prescription drugs are a simple substitute to try to aid in sleep, but they should only be used very sparingly and under a Board Certified Sleep Physician's close supervision. They are typically provided without a thorough examination of the sleeping disorder, and they may even cause further issues. Melatonin is one example of a natural supplement that can be beneficial, but it should only be used sparingly and in the recommended quantity. Herbal supplements that aid with sleep, like lavender, may also help.
Color-coded boxes with blue blocking Wearing sun glasses can help treat Circadian Rhythm Disorder, which affects a person's internal sleep clock, and irregular sleep patterns in a straightforward and noninvasive way. These therapies function by sending signals to the brain that may intensify or decrease stimulation, depending on the kind of light the brain is exposed to at different times of the day or night. Corrective interventions could be implemented to help the patient adjust their internal sleep mechanisms and enhance their ability to operate during the day.
Modern electronics are aware of the significance of the kind of light that is present at different times of the day and how it might trigger an awake state in the brain. With the help of features like "Apple Night Shift," these devices may alter the color of the light at specific times of the day to better align with the body's natural wake and sleep cycles.
Getting assistance from a psychiatrist or sleep psychologist for behavior modification therapy is also a worthwhile endeavor. Using specific protocols under the expert supervision of a behavioral therapist can often assist address your sleeping condition. We can point you in the direction of some extremely helpful resources that can assist with behavioral change for improved sleeping patterns. When you visit for a consultation, we will make an effort to point you in the direction of the best course of action.