Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment In Shellharbour
Snoring is a common condition that affects many patients’ lives. It occurs during sleep, as this is when our muscles are in their most relaxed state. As the muscles towards the back of the throat and tongue relax, they can partially collapse into the airway space. The resultant obstruction in the airway leads to turbulent airflow and vibration of the soft tissues creating the characteristic sound we are all aware of.
Snoring can have a social impact on people’s lives as it is typically annoying to loved ones. Indeed we find most patients requesting treatment of snoring have been prompted by their sleep-deprived other halves.
While snoring alone can significantly impact patients and their families, many patients aren’t aware that it is commonly associated with a condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, which can have severe health consequences.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) can occur if the relaxed soft tissues collapse in a sufficient way to obstruct the airway enough that the body is no longer supplied with enough oxygen to maintain our body’s needs. During this time, the patient effectively stops breathing and has a corresponding rapid drop in oxygen saturation. Our body will recognize this and send emergency signals that cause our muscles to tense and abruptly wake from our deep sleep.
This doesn’t mean we will fully wake up, but it takes us out of restful sleep. We will gradually drift back to a night of deep sleep, and then the cycle can repeat. As this can occur many times throughout the night, it is common for patients with OSA to feel they don’t get a good night's. They will often complain of tiredness, a desire to have naps, memory problems, mood changes, and depression throughout the day.
Most importantly, the body is constantly being deprived of oxygen for sometimes minutes over an extended period which has been shown to cause damaging effects to the heart and blood vessels. While our body is deprived of oxygen, the heart responds by working furiously by pumping harder and faster to try and deliver what supply of oxygen it has available to keep our organs functioning. This places much stress on the heart and increases blood pressure.
Research has shown a marked rise in the hormones and substances associated with stress and the substances that cause inflammation. Some medical conditions associated with OSA include hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, arrhythmias and sudden death from a cardiovascular event.
Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment
Many patients are unaware of their sleep apnoea problem, and the only way to properly diagnose this is with a sleep study. We can provide a proven, highly effective treatment via a properly fitted oral appliance for people with snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnoea.
The oral appliance looks like a thin mouthguard and works by slightly repositioning the lower jaw forward and slightly more open. This has the effect of opening the airway around the back of the mouth and can relieve the signs, symptoms and medical severe issues already mentioned.
At Shellharbour City Dental, we understand the importance of proper diagnosis and management of these conditions and work alongside local medical practices to ensure both diagnosis and treatment are correct and appropriate for each patient’s circumstances.
Call us today to learn more about how we can help!
