Types of Sleep Apnea and Treatment Options
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person to intermittently stop breathing while asleep. Consequences of the disorder can range from the mild to the severe, depending on the severity and type of sleep apnea the person suffers from. Symptoms of the disorder can range from loud snoring, restless sleep, chronic daytime fatigue (even after several hours of sleep), heart trouble, and possible stroke. When a person experiences one or more of these symptoms and expects that he or she has the syndrome, it is vitally important to seek out a medical diagnosis and treatment.
The word apnea literally means without breath, and refers to the cessation of breathing that characterizes the disorder. Periods of cessation can last as long as 10 seconds. This deprives the brain of oxygen and accounts for much of the feeling of fatigue patients experience during waking hours.
There are two types of sleep apnea: central, and obstructive. The word apnea literally means without breath. Central sleep apnea originates in the brain. It is caused by a failure to send the necessary signal to the muscles responsible for breathing. A number of causes can account for this, including underdeveloped neurons in children with the CSA, and side effects of certain medications. Seizures, neuromuscular disorders, and head injuries can also cause CSA.
Obstructive sleep apnea originates in the trachea. Due to any number of factors ranging from age to obesity, the throat muscles can collapse the breathing passage temporarily and obstruct airflow. OSA is prevalent among 17% of the male and female middle-aged populations. Some studies have linked its occurrence to smoking and alcohol use as well. This linkage, combined with the fact that obstructed airflow can further complicate heart problems and the possibility of stroke, means that OSA should be taken seriously and proactively treated with the best possible care.
Both central and obstructive sleep apnea can be treated effectively, allowing the patient to experience a good night’s rest and a productive work day during waking hours. Consistency is the key to managing the disorder. Some patients find certain treatment options more comfortable than others, and are more likely to be compliant with treatments they are comfortable with.
One treatment that dentists and doctors prescribe to sleep apnea patients is a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The CPAP machine has a mask which the dentists fit to the patient’s face. The machine is custom-set to the level of pressure the individual needs to keep the airway open. During the night, the CPAP device regulates the flow of air into the trachea, preventing it from collapsing, and keeping the flow of oxygen to the brain constant.
Some people, however, do not like wearing a CPAP mask. They find it cumbersome, painful, and often complain that when they first wake up in the morning, it is difficult to start breathing on their own again. So long as the patient is suffering from only mild or moderate sleep apnea, an alternative treatment method exists that can produce the same results as a CPAP machine. This device is the SomnoDent MAS. ™
This oral device is custom-made by the dentist to fit over the upper and lower jaws of the patient like a mouth guard. Its special design forces the lower jaw just ever so slightly forward. This creates enough tension in the throat muscles to prevent collapse, and normal breathing is able to occur.
To read more information on sleep apnea, visit the following links.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Information
Causes of Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea Information
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Call the Cosmetic Dentistry Center today at 713.795.5905 to get more information on SomonoDent MAS (TM) . See if this exciting new treatment is what you need to sleep better, and breathe better.
Labels: CPAP, mouth guard, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep apnea, SomnoDent MAS
posted by Dental Expert at
11:24 AM
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