Sleeping eight or more hours a night yet never feeling rested, waking throughout the night without knowing why and excessive snoring are all signs that point to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). According to the Mayo Clinic, OSA is when “breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep”. It is also the most common type of sleep apnea. But, how can anti-snoring devices effectively battle obstructive sleep apnea?
Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea
If you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), this means that there are multiple episodes while you’re sleeping where there is either a partial or complete blockage in your upper airway. You stop breathing and must then work your diaphragm and chest muscles to open the airway and get air into your lungs.
When you start breathing again, you will do so with a snort, loud gasp or even a body jerk. This may wake you and you will no longer feel rested. In extreme cases, the oxygen sent to vital organs may be reduced and you may even develop an irregular heartbeat. The American Sleep Apnea Association states that if untreated OSA can wreak havoc with your sleep and your health and cause issues such as high blood pressure, weight gain, headaches and heart disease.
Anti-Snoring Devices to Battle OSA
Treatment of OSA aims to open the airway so that breathing becomes normal again during sleep. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliance therapy as a treatment of choice for snoring and mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea.
At Dentistry on 7, you’ll be able to use a take-home sleep study kit that will help decipher how well you’re sleeping, if you have sleep apnea and how severe it is all from the comfort of your own home. A qualified sleep M.D. will then study the results and come up with a treatment plan that works best for your personal needs.
There are several different types of oral appliance sleep devices that can help provide relief from annoying snoring and OSA.
Better rest equals better health. Managing your sleep apnea and getting more rest will help reduce symptoms such as high blood pressure and fatigue. Let our team help assess your needs and come up with the best solution for your mild to moderate snoring.