Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a very serious condition that currently affects over 40 million Americans; and the majority of people do not even realize they have it.  The most commonly associated symptoms of sleep apnea are loud and obnoxious snoring and gasping for breath.  The reason people snore and gasp for breath is because while asleep the muscles in their airway loosen up and collapse, making it very difficult for air to pass through naturally. 

The health risks associated with sleep apnea are quite abundant high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, depression, worsening of ADHD.   In addition sleep apnea causes many people to feel extremely tired throughout the day making work production very hard to keep at productive levels.  Driving vehicles is also more of a danger for people with severe cases of sleep apnea; it is just as dangerous to drive a car being drowsy from getting no sleep as it is being drunk; many accidents are indirectly linked to sleep apnea.

So what can you do to treat this horrible condition if you find yourself affected with it?  Currently there are three main treatment options that people can use to get help: CPAP therapy, oral appliance therapy, and oral surgery.  All three of these types of treatment are usually handled by different sleep apnea doctors. 

Pulmologists, ENT’s, and neurologist are three types of sleep apnea doctors that normally will administer CPAP therapy.  CPAP therapy is the most common of all the treatment options available.  Surgeons, more specifically oral surgeons will be able to treat patients who opt for oral sleep apnea surgery.  And a treatment option growing in popularity, oral appliance therapy, is typically done through dentists who are trained in Dental Sleep Medicine.

Every case of sleep apnea is unique so there is no one solution that will work for everyone, in fact some people may have such a severe case that they need to combine treatment options.  The first step in getting treatment is to get diagnosed.  This requires taking a sleep test.  A sleep test can be done either in the comfort of your own home, or at a local sleep center.  These results can help the sleep apnea doctor best determine which method of treatment will work for you.

Getting treatment is something that should be of top priority if you are currently suffering from this horrible condition.  Not only will you be contributing to your overall health, but you will save your spouse or partner the hassle of listening to you snore on a nightly basis; perhaps if you are one of the millions banished to the couch because of your snoring you will then be allowed back in your bed.