Sleep Apnea

Do you suffer from daytime sleepiness, can never seem to get enough sleep, have depression or another mood disorder, or have been diagnosed with cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure or coronary artery disease? You may have Sleep Apnea!

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep Apnea is characterized by shallow breathing or abnormal breathing pauses during sleep. These pauses(apneas)can happen because of a physical blockage to airflow, a lack of respiratory effort or a combination of the two

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

When you fall into a deep sleep, your tongue, soft palate and throat tissues fall into a relaxed

For those who snore, the relaxation of these throat tissues causes the airways to restrict, vibrating and rumbling them as oxygen is forced past. Narrower airways mean heavier snoring since more force is required to breathe.

For those with sleep apnea, the tongue, soft palate and throat issues over-relax, causing them to collapse into the back of the throat and obstruct your airway. When the flow of oxygen stops, the brain is forced to awaken the consciously resume breathing.

These mini-episodes can occur hundreds of times a night, which prevents you from falling into the deep, restorative sleep needed to recharge your brain and body. This can contribute to many medical disorders, which can reduce the longevity of your life.

Part of the reason so many people go undiagnosed is that the symptoms may seem to be associated with many different conditions, or be dismissed as being “normal.”

Symptoms may include;

Snoring
Morning Headaches
Daytime Sleepiness
Dry mouth and throat
Chronic fatigue
Loss of motivation
Difficulty concentrating
Memory problems
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

Children and Sleep Disorder Breathing (SDB)

Statistics show that over 40 million children can be affected by Sleep Disorders and 9 out of 10 children are suffering from one or more of sleep related breathing symptoms.

The main issue for many children suffering the effects of Sleep Disorder Breathing (SDB) is a compromised airway. When a child’s airway is narrow, underdeveloped or constricted in anyway the child will struggle to get enough oxygen at night and may resort to mouth breathing.

Mouth breathing often leads to further compromises in the airway and can prevent proper function of the tongue and other orofacial muscles that children need to speak, swallow, chew and function normally. Mouth breathing can also cause the tonsils and adenoids to swell and become enlarged, which further restricts the airway, causing the need to mouth breathe.

Sleep disorders impact a child’s behavior, cognitive and physical development with long term consequences. Children with SDB are 40 – 100% more likely to exhibit behavioral and emotional problems including hyperactivity, bedwetting, anxiety, depression, social issues with peers including aggressiveness.

Sleep Disorder Breathing (SDB) symptoms can vary from one child to another but, even mild SDB (mouth breathing, crowded teeth and snoring,) can point to a serious underlying health issues and a need for treatment.

Children’s bodies are able to adjust and mold easily, particularly in the mouth. Crowded teeth may force their tongue forward against their teeth, narrowing their dental arch and constricting their airway causing Sleep Disorder Breathing(SDB)

WHY CHOOSE A DNA APPLIANCE?

Many people find Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines obtrusive and uncomfortable.

That is where we come in!

Unlike traditional dental sleep medicine, a DNA appliance presents you with opportunities to restore and reopen the airways to allow you to breathe easier at night.

SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT APPROACH

DNA oral appliances, in combination with lifestyle solutions, can help you achieve better breathing and more restful sleep.

Simple lifestyle adjustments can often help aid in the treatment of sleep apnea.

WEIGHT LOSS

Weight loss may help to relieve constriction of your throat. In some cases, sleep apnea can resolve if you return to a healthy weight, bit it can recur if you regain the weight.

EXERCISE

Regular exercise can also help ease the symptoms of sleep apnea even without weight loss. Patients should try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk walk on most days of the week.

SIDE SLEEPING

Some people who snore or have sleep apnea only when sleeping on their back. These patients can eliminate or reduce airway blockage simply by learning to sleep on their side.

DO YOU WANT A SAFE, ALL NATURAL, NON-INVASIVE, NON-PHARMACEUTICAL and NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT OPTION?

CALL AND ASK US TODAY TO HELP YOU! 780-455-7790