Millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a condition marked by multiple stoppages in your breathing during sleep. Often, these pauses in breathing will only last a few seconds, and you may not even realize that you suffer from the condition unless your partner informs you of your incessant snoring, a symptom commonly associated with sleep apnea. As a result, the quality of your sleep is poor, which makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is a leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness.
Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. Doctors usually can’t detect the condition during routine office visits. Also, no blood test can help diagnose the condition.
Most people who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member or bed partner might be the first to notice signs of sleep apnea.
The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. In this condition, the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. This causes shallow breathing or breathing pauses. When you try to breathe, any air that squeezes past the blockage can cause loud snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in people who are overweight, but it can affect anyone. For example, small children who have enlarged tonsil tissues in their throats may have obstructive sleep apnea.
Untreated sleep apnea can:
Increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes Increase the risk of, or worsen, heart failure
Make arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeats, more likely
Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents
Treatment options for sleep apnea
After a proper diagnosis, several treatment options are available to choose from:
Oral appliance therapy – Dr. Shimanovsky may give you a custom-fit oral appliance to treat your sleep apnea. These devices are worn while you sleep to prevent airway obstruction so that you can breathe more easily throughout the night.
CPAP – Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a treatment method that uses a mask, hose, and blower to force air through your upper airway passage while you sleep.
Surgery – Surgery is generally only recommended as a last resort for severe sleep apnea patients who are unable to correct the issue with a more conservative treatment method. There are a variety of surgeries that may correct the underlying conditions causing sleep apnea.
To learn more about the many sleep apnea treatments available to you, please contact our Oregon city office to schedule your initial consultation with Dr.Shimanovsky. We serve Oregon City, Portland, West Linn, Gladstone, Lake Oswego and other areas of Portland Metro Area.
About Dr. Inna Shimanovsky and Aadvanced Dental: Dr. Inna Shimanovsky and Aadvanced Dental is a 100% mercury-free general dental practice in Oregon City, OR specializing in advanced cosmetic/reconstructive dentistry and extensive dental care services using the latest science and technology in a caring and pain free environment.