At Hunter Dental Care we firmly believe that everyone deserves a good sleep and we will do everything in our power to ensure our patients leave our office with a sleep solution that will work for them. If you are having a hard time feeling well-rested or if you wake several times throughout the night, know that you might have a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). At Hunter Dental Care, we have a variety of ways to treat OSA and the oral appliance therapy is a top tier performer.Your Sleep
Sleep is extremely important to our overall health and wellness. This is way we spend a third of our lives sleeping. Our bodies need a chance to recover, heal, and repair itself. The following are common side effects of disrupted or inadequate sleep:
| • | Difficulty concentrating and learning |
| • | Memory loss, anxiety, and depression |
| • | Headaches, irritability, increased blood pressure |
| • | Cardiovascular disease, reduced libido, and excessive daytime fatigue |
Snoring
Snoring may be affecting your life in ways you may not be aware of. A common misconception is that snoring is merely an annoyance, not a health issue. The truth is that snoring can affect the health of the snorer and their bed partner. The snorer and family members whose sleep is disrupted experience broken sleep patterns that can adversely impact their quality and overall health.
What causes snoring?
Snoring is the sound of obstructed breathing that occurs when the airway is narrowed, restricted, or collapses. As a result, air is forced to move more rapidly through the airway, causing unsupported structures in the throat to vibrate. Large tonsils, a long soft palate or uvula, and excess fat deposits all contribute to airway narrowing. Snoring can progress to a more life threatening condition called sleep apnea.
From 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders like habitual snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Although snoring can be harmless, it can also be a sign of sleep apnea, which occurs when the tongue falls back into the throat during sleep and partially or completely obstructs the upper airway. People suffering from sleep apnea can stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds or longer, hundreds of times a night. Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes, and even heart attacks.
If you are having sleep issues that could be due to obstructive sleep apnea, give us a call at (503) 622-9730 to schedule a consultation.
Are You At Risk for Sleep Apnea?
Most Common Symptoms
| • | Snoring |
| • | Excessive daytime sleepiness |
| • | High blood pressure |
Other Symptoms
| • | Increase stomach acid (GERD - Gastro-esophageal reflux disease) |
| • | Waking with headaches or sweating |
| • | More frequent trips to the bathroom during the night to urinate |
| • | Reduced energy and poor focus |
| • | Decreased memory problems - Dementia and Alzheimer's |
| • | Feelings of depression |
| • | More problems regulating blood sugar |
Contributing Factors
| • | Obesity and large neck circumference |
| • | Mouth breathing |
| • | Menopause |
| • | Family history |
Facts About Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
| • | 40% of adults over 40 years old snore (approximately 87 million Americans) |
| • | Over 70% of the time loud snoring is indicative of some form of OSA |
| • | The bed partner of snores and OSA patients lose more than 1 hour (62 minutes) of sleep per night on average due to their partner's condition. (Mayo Clinic Proc, 1999 Oct) |
| • | 18% of men and 8% of women between 30 - 70 years old suffer from some form of obstructive sleep apnea. (National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project AASM, Sep 2014) |
| • | Over 40 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder, and 20 million suffer from OSA. Despite the high prevalence, 93% of women and 82% of men with moderate to severe OSA remain undiagnosed.
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| • | Untreated OSA can take up to 12 years off your life. |
| • | OSA increases risk of death by 46%. |
| • | People with untreated OSA are 12 times more likely to be involved in an automobile accident. |
| • | Children with sleep apnea are six times more likely to have behavior problems and seven times more likely to have parent-reported learning problems. (Journal Sleep, April 2013) |
| • | Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) patients are 30 times more likely to suffer from Sleep Disorder Breathing than statistically matched controls. (The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 88) |
| • | All pregnant women are at risk to develop changes in their airway that can cause sleep disorder breathing. Even the slightest airway resistance results in the mother's decreased oxygenation at night and adversely affects the growth and development of her baby. Sadly, in some case, the mother's airway becomes completely obstructed many times throughout the night. 30% of all pregnant women snore. Women who snore habitually deliver developmentally-delayed babies by 7% of the time. Women who snore occasionally deliver developmentally-delayed babies 2.3% of the time. (Franklin, K. Chest 2000, 117,137-141) |
Learn more about sleep hygiene and take our sleep health test today!