Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which the breathing passage becomes blocked or narrowed during sleep. It’s affecting many people across the globe, including Roslyn, New York, who suffer from it. This blockage causes snoring and breathing interruptions, leading to low oxygen levels in the blood. These episodes often occur repeatedly throughout the night, causing daytime drowsiness, poor concentration, irritability, headaches, and other symptoms contributing to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Fortunately, treatments are available for this condition, including CPAP therapy (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). Book an appointment with experts in sleep apnea in Roslyn, NY.

What is Sleep Apnea, and How Does it Affect You?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which breathing passages become repeatedly blocked during sleep. It can be caused by obesity, usually related to excessive fat around the soft palate or an anatomical abnormality of the airway that causes it to collapse. The issue with treating this condition is that most people are unaware they have this problem until they seek medical help.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three different types:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The airway is blocked.
• Central Sleep Apnea: The nerve that controls the muscles for breathing fails to signal the brain to breathe.
• Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnea: Both of these conditions occur at the same time.

How Do You Know If You Have Sleep Apnea?

If you’re tired during the day, snoring during sleep, have loud or heavy snoring, wake up with headaches, are confused about whether or not you’ve had any sleep, or have a hard time staying asleep, you may be suffering from this condition. Talking to your doctor is essential so they can speak to you about what treatment may be right for you.

What are the Treatment Options?

The primary way to treat sleep apnea is through Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, reducing airway collapse and making breathing easier. The patient wears a mask at night that is attached to a machine that produces mild air pressure.

This pressure prevents your throat tissues from collapsing and helps you breathe more naturally. CPAP can also help decrease sleep disruptions, improve your quality of life, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. For sleep apnea, doctors often prescribe a dental device such as a palate expander or tonsillectomy.

Significance of an Oral Appliance to Sleep Apnea

Oral appliances are devices that fit over the upper teeth to reposition the jaw. This may be done for several reasons, including treating snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and overbite problems.

The appliance can act as a mouth guard or hold your mouth in a way that ensures an airway is kept clear. There are many oral appliances, including palatal expanders, mandibular advancement devices (MAD), tongue retainers, and braces for both adults and children.

Oral appliances are often very effective in treating sleep apnea because they keep the throat wide open during sleep. They also work well if you have an underbite which can cause sleeping position problems.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the breathing passage becomes blocked or narrowed during sleep. This blockage causes snoring and breathing interruptions, leading to low oxygen levels in the blood. It can cause daytime drowsiness, poor concentration, and irritability. Luckily there are solutions such as CPAP therapy and the use of oral appliances.

Joyce Laroche