You work out regularly, watch what you eat, head to bed at a reasonable hour and generally strive to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. Yet, too often, you wake up fatigued and move through the day feeling tired, possibly overindulging in caffeine to stay alert. At night you sometimes suffer uncomfortable reflux or get up to use the restroom several times. Perhaps your bed-partner comments on your loud snoring and occasional snort or gasp. Maybe your workouts aren’t generating the results you expect, or you are finding it difficult to break through that weight loss.
These challenges can be caused by a variety of underlying causes, but medical research is zeroing in on a common culprit of truly epidemic proportions, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is the most prevalent syndrome in a class of ailments called Sleep Disordered Breathing. This disease is estimated to affect up to 25% of the adult population. Although overweight individuals are significantly affected by sleep apnea, men and women in excellent overall condition are routinely impacted.
Sleep apnea occurs when your airway closes off during sleep, causing breathing to temporarily stop. Sufferers are often unaware of this happening. In serious cases apnea can manifest itself up to fifty or more times per hour during sleep. When this occurs, your blood oxygen levels often fall to dangerously low levels, exposing you to a possible heart attack or stroke, particularly when working out in the early morning.
Warning Signs
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
- Loud snoring with periods of no breathing
- Abrupt waking accompanied by gasping for air
- Frequent urination at night
- Nighttime acid reflux
A Misunderstood, Misdiagnosed Condition
Sleep apnea is a widely misunderstood and under-diagnosed disease. Apnea can have a profound impact on your quality of life and physical well-being. Without treatment, OSA can diminish your ability to concentrate, cause memory problems, promote weight gain, keep you from losing weight and exacerbate diabetes, high blood pressure and depression. Research has also directly linked OSA to cardiovascular disease and strokes. OSA affects all ages. A significant number of patients who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia have a component of sleep apnea that can be aggravating or creating many of their symptoms.
Traditional Therapy
Until now, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) has been the treatment of choice. CPAP uses a hose, mask, and air pump to blow air into your nose or mouth during sleep, keeping your air passages from collapsing between breaths. It is an excellent therapy if patients use it as prescribed. Unfortunately, significant numbers of patients find CPAP to be claustrophobic, uncomfortable and/or restrictive. Too often, these factors cause patients to stop therapy and thereby undermine the benefits of the treatment.
New Hope for OSA Patients
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is an FDA approved alternative treatment to CPAP. Doctors and patients have found it to be effective, convenient, less restrictive, and much more comfortable. Your TDSS dentist will make a custom mold of your mouth and provide a comfortably fit oral appliance. Most patients that have worn an orthodontic retainer, appliance for clenching or grinding, or an athletic mouth guard, have few in any issues. The appliance works on the same general principal as CPR, using a device to mechanically create a jaw thrust to open and maintain your airway.
This non-invasive therapy allows for healthier sleep while maintaining proper oxygen levels. OAT is backed by extensive medical research. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliances for mild and moderate sleep apnea or for severe cases when patients cannot or refuse to use CPAP. Severe cases can also be treated by combining OAT with CPAP, Combination Therapy, eliminating the need for the uncomfortable head gear and chin strap and creating lower therapeutic air pressures. OAT is covered by Medicare and your TDSS doctor is in-network medical provider with most major medical insurance policies.
If you feel you have any of the warning signs, always feel free to contact your TDSS provider.
