Obstructive Sleep Apnea is an underdiagnosed sleep disorder with many health consequences. Most people begin an awareness of the problem when:
A.) someone complains about their snoring and the strange gasping sounds they make at night or,
B.) You become concerned about being tired all the time and falling asleep easily throughout the day, even while driving.
Characterized by episodes of snoring, grunts, and gasps, sleep apnea deprives the body of healthy oxygen levels and contributes to health issues, including high blood pressure, depression, and heart disease.
Snoring alone may not be sleep apnea but instead snoring accompanied by episodes of not breathing.
Obstructive sleep apnea involves the muscles at the back of the throat relaxing when you fall asleep, allowing nearby tissues to block the compromised airway. Statistics say 25% of men and nearly 10% of women have OSA. Yet sleep apnea continues to be an under-diagnosed health problem for men, women, and even children. Its prevalence today may be related to evidence of our shrinking jaw. Our prehistoric ancestors had much larger jaws and more space in the airway. You might think a shrinking jaw is evolution or genetics, but the evidence points to lifestyle changes since world war ll being more likely responsible for the shrinking jaw.
The most common treatment has been Positive Airway Pressure, which prevents the airway from closing. A small machine blows air through a mask worn over the nose, preventing the airway from collapsing.
Some people struggle to become accustomed to this treatment. Researchers looking for alternative treatments have developed a dental appliance that repositions the jaw and tongue, opening the airway. So naturally, sleep apnea treatment is becoming popular in dentistry.
Dentists who practice sleep medicine are certified by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and generally work together with other health professionals to diagnose and treat sleep apnea.
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