Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Anyone who travels in airplanes or subways, or has a spouse that snores, understands the annoying frustration that goes with being around a snorer. Despite the frustration involved, it turns out that snoring may not be the innocent annoyance it was once thought to be. Few things are as stressful or unnerving as to have to watch a sleeping partner repeatedly struggle for breath through the night.

Snoring is just one of the more noticeable signs of a deeper problem called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Often during sleep the muscles of the tongue and throat can relax enough to close off the airway in the back of the mouth, creating a vibrating snoring noise as well as preventing normal breathing. When this happens repeatedly during sleep, the lowered oxygen levels (hypoxia) in the brain trigger an arousal or awakening sufficient to contract these relaxed muscles so that the airway in the throat opens and breathing can be restored – until it happens again.

This creates a pattern of restless sleep which leads to daytime tiredness, lack of energy, diminished cognitive (thinking) function, and eventually to increased medical problems such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and other medical disorders.

Diagnosis and treatment is now available. If you or your spouse snores, or experiences excessive daytime tiredness, then talking to your physician or a dentist trained in Dental Sleep Medicine can be a life-saving experience. They can help you begin the healing and healthful process of restoring normal restful sleep, along with eliminating snoring and any underlying sleep apnea.

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