Sleep Apnea On The Rise

Sleep apnea is a disorder that is caused due to hampered or obstructed breathing during sleep. It occurs when you stop breathing for more than 10 seconds, which results in low oxygen levels in the blood. The pause between breathing spells usually lasts between 10 to 20 seconds and can happen more than a one hundred times during a single sleep session.

The severity of sleep apnea is determined by dividing the number of apneas by the hours of sleep. An apnea disrupts sleep and the person wakes up suddenly or goes from deep sleep to shallow sleep. Sleep apnea occurs in children as well, but this is very rare. Sleep apnea is a curable disorder and there are various medications available to treat sleep apnea. The best among them is a sleep apnea dental appliance.

Types of sleep apnea

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): The most common type of apnea that results in loud snoring as the airway gets blocked during sleep
2. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): This happens when the brain fails to give a signal to the muscles to control breathing
3. Mixed Sleep Apnea (MSA): This is a combination of OSA and CSA

Symptoms of sleep apnea

The major symptoms of sleep apnea are:

Common symptoms of sleep apnea are:

Millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea. The latest studies and surveys show that more than 15 million Americans over the age of 25 suffer from this condition. A sleep apnea dental appliance is a commonly used device to treat apnea. It is a custom-fitted dental mouthpiece which helps a patient get a good night’s sleep. The patient can wear it in the mouth like an orthodontic appliance during sleep. The appliance will not interfere with the normal breathing pattern. A sleep apnea dental appliance repositions the tongue, lower jaw, and hyoid bone to prevent air blockage during sleep.

You need to get the sleep apnea dental appliance fixed in your mouth by a dentist or an experienced health professional.

The most commonly used sleep apnea dental appliances are:

Advantages of Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance

Disadvantages of Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance

You must consult your doctor before using a sleep apnea dental appliance. Make sure you go for regular checkups while using the appliance to check the working of the device and make necessary changes. You may have to replace the device occasionally.

 References

1. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_dental_devices_used_treat_sleep_apnea_000065_9.htm

2. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/869831-overview

3. http://www.snoringisntsexy.com/

4. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/13666.php

5. http://www.ihatecpap.com/oral_appliance.html

6. http://www.medicinenet.com/sleep_apnea/article.htm

7. http://helpguide.org/life/sleep_apnea.htm

8. http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/us.html