What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Sleep disorders are common problems, affecting millions of people globally. There are three types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when there’s a blockage in the airway. Then there’s central sleep apnea, where the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
The third type of sleep apnea is complex sleep apnea. It happens when a patient has both central and obstructive sleep apnea. If you have any of these types of sleep apnea, it’s essential to seek proper treatment from your doctor or dentist right away. Let’s have a closer look at obstructive sleep apnea.
How Does Obstructive Sleep Apnea Happen?
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It happens when the throat muscles relax too much and prevent normal breathing in the airway during sleep. The affected muscles include the soft palate, the uvula, tonsils, and tongue. When these muscles relax, the airway closes as you breathe, inhibiting your breathing for about ten seconds.
A blockage in the airway lowers oxygen levels in the blood and can cause carbon dioxide buildup. When your brain senses this malfunctioning, it rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen the airway. For this reason, you might awaken with shortness of breath or gasp for air. Fortunately, normal breathing resumes almost instantly. Since breathing impairs for only a few seconds, most people with this condition might not even realize they have a problem.
Obstructive sleep apnea can happen about 5-30 times in an hour, all night long. This continuous disruption impairs your ability to get deep, quality, restful, and enough sleep. In the morning, after waking up, you’re likely to experience daytime sleepiness or difficulty concentrating. Visit a sleep clinic near you if you suspect you might have sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea may experience:
- Loud snoring
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Abrupt awakenings accompanied by choking and gasping
- Episodes of stopped breathing when sleeping
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
- Awakening with a sore throat or dry mouth
- Mood changes such as irritability and depression
- Decreased libido
Similarly, OSA links to:
- Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
- Endocrine conditions such as acromegaly, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovary syndrome
- Chronic lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Neuromuscular conditions such as stroke
- Heart or kidney failure
- Pregnancy
Fortunately, treatments for OSA are available. Visit a sleep apnea dentist near you if you experience these issues. Your dentist or doctor will examine you for sleep disorders. Common diagnosis exams include:
- Recording your sleep habits and quality in a questionnaire
- Physical examination to check for symptoms associated with OSA
- Polysomnography (PSG)
- EEG and EOM
- EMG
- ECG
- Pulse oximetry
Treatment for OSA
If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your dentist will create a treatment plan to prevent airway obstruction during sleep. Treatment options include:
- Weight loss. If you’re overweight or obese, exercising and losing weight can help decrease the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea will also reduce blood pressure and improve your sleep quality and daytime productivity.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy administers through a face mask worn when sleeping. The mask gently and continually delivers a positive airway, thus preventing airway blockage and OSA.
- Bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP). If CPAP therapy isn’t practical, your doctor can recommend BPAP machines. The machine delivers two pressures to your breathing – inhaled and exhausted pressure.
- Sleep Position. Proper sleeping posture can improve OSA, such as sleeping on your side.
- Surgery. If the machines aren’t effective, your doctor can consider surgical therapy to correct obstructive lesions in the airway. Consult with your doctor to determine if surgery is an ideal option if you have severe OSA.
Final Verdict
If you have obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep apnea, it’s essential to seek proper treatment. The dentist or doctor can help prevent airway obstruction and ensure normal breathing. For more information about obstructive sleep apnea treatment in Citrus Heights, CA, contact Sacramento Natural Dentistry.