What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that affects many people around the world today. This is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing while you are sleeping. To be considered an apnea event there should be a ten-second lapse in breathing with blood oxygen desaturation of 3-4%. The most common form is an obstructive sleep disorder, when the body is at rest muscles become relaxed and in the throat, there are soft tissues that can collapse and cut off breathing.
Most people will go for years and even decades with the problem going undiagnosed. Often it takes a loved one noticing the breathing lapses or other medical issues that arise because of it. A person who snores is at a higher risk for this sleep disorder. To properly diagnose a sleep disorder a test called a sleep study is done.
Side Effects of Sleep Apnea
The first thing you should know is that this specific sleep disorder is much more than just a sleeping condition. It has been linked to several other medical issues. Over the course of time, you may experience headaches, irritability, anxiety, depression and even a reduced sex drive. While all this sounds benign, it is important to remember that prolonged apnea can also lead to heart problems and other medical conditions. Bottom line is; this specific sleep disorder must be taken seriosly.
Treatment
The first thing a doctor will do is assess the best treatment plan available. Often times that is with a device called continuous positive airflow pressure or CPAP machine. However many patients find this apparatus to be very uncomfortable and several refuse to wear it.
Common complaints include disturbed sleep, difficulty in using and just overall frustration with all the stuff attached to your head while you are trying to sleep. This leads people to seek alternative treatments for their sleep disorder. Some of the causes for this disorder are smoking, aging, decreased muscle tone and obesity. Some of the best natural cures come from addressing these issues.
• Stop smoking
• Lose weight
• Get regular exercise
• Avoid alcohol
• Change sleeping positions often, some accomplish this by putting a ball in a sock and tying it around their waist.
Dental Device
In addition to the lifestyle, changes mentioned above there are also many types of oral devices that can be used to treat this obstructive sleep problem without the use of a CPAP machine. These include but are not limited to:
• Tongue retaining device
• Mandibular positioners
• Elastoemeric sleep appliance
• Many more
All of the above appliances can be made by a local dentist and provide relief for snoring and sleep apnea. These devices vary in application but the basic idea is to open your airways to prevent the soft tissue collapsing.
Conclusion
Sleep apnea is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. That being said there are many simple treatment plans that do not include cumbersome equipment or medication.
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