Treatment for sleep apnea

Does your partner often complain about your snoring? Do you feel sluggish after a full night’s sleep? You could have sleep apnea or apnoea.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that needs immediate treatment. Since it only happens during sleep, sleep apnea sufferers are usually unaware that they have the condition. There are two ways to determine if you are suffering from the disorder.

1. Ask someone you know (perhaps a family member) if you snore during sleep.
2. Note patterns of chronic fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness even if you are getting eight or more hours of sleep at night.

What happens during sleep apnea

In sleep apnea, there are one or multiple pauses in breathing during sleep. Your airway (consisting of mouth, nose, throat and windpipe) normally remains open during sleep. This facilitates the flow of air and oxygen into your lungs as you inhale, and the flow of carbon dioxide as you exhale.

In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the airway narrows (mild case) or completely closes (severe form), restricting the flow of air when you inhale. The blockage causes the walls of the throat to vibrate as you breathe, producing a sound which can be mild to extremely loud.

The decreased or absence of air passing into the lungs causes reduced blood oxygen levels. This sends a signal to the brain to clear the airway, that is why snorers or sleep apnea sufferers sometimes gasp for air while sleeping. The whole episode may last seconds or minutes and repeats up to 100 times per hour.

The cycle prevents sleep apnea sufferers from achieving deeper levels of sleep that the body requires to function normally at daytime.

Sleep apnea treatment

If left untreated, sleep apnea may increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, obesity, stroke and diabetes. It may also cause arrhythmias (irregular hearbeats). Daytime fatigue and sleepiness may lead to sleep apnea sufferers having work-related or driving accidents.

If you think you have sleep apnea, seek immediate medical advice. Sleep apnea treatment can be made possible through dental breathing devices or surgery to open the airway. Lifestyle changes (losing weight, quitting smoking/drinking of alcohol) may also be prescribed as part of sleep apnea treatment.

East Bentleigh Dental Group is a dental practice in Melbourne, VIC providing treatment for Sleeping Disorders. For more information visit Sleep Disorder Treatment Melbourne