Loud snoring can be an indicator of sleep apnea. Sleep disorders can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Lack of quality sleep can cause depression and irritability.
People can be affected at any age, but certain factors increase the risk. These include being overweight, having a thicker neck, being male or aging over 50.
Symptoms
Sleep Apnea causes repeated awakenings in the night which disrupts normal sleep patterns, resulting in poor quality of sleep. This leaves you feeling exhausted and irritable during the day. The lack of good restorative sleep also weakens the immune system, making you prone to diseases like high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes and obesity. In addition, it can also lead to memory loss and depression.
Obstructive sleep apnea Russellville KY is the most common form of the condition, caused by a physical blockage in the airway during sleep due to the muscles relaxing too much. Symptoms include loud snoring, choking or gasping for breath and fragmented sleep. It can occur in people of any age, but it is more common in men than women and can increase with age. It can also be made worse by excess weight, a large neck circumference, nasal congestion, enlarged tonsils or adenoids and certain medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure.
Diagnosis
Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea are diagnosed with an overnight test called a polysomnogram (sleep study). At our Sleep Center at MedCenter Health at Russellville, a board-certified sleep physician and registered polysomnographic technician are available to evaluate adults and children as young as four years old.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by a physical blockage in the upper airway. This obstruction causes loud snoring, choking or gasping for breath, and fragmented sleep. It increases the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke and reduces quality of life through excessive daytime fatigue, impaired concentration, mood disturbances and driving accidents.
OSA can be treated with lifestyle changes such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol and narcotics, changing sleeping positions, and reducing alcohol intake. Surgical interventions such as removing excess tissue from the throat (tonsillectomy or uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), repositioning the jaw, and implanted devices to stimulate airway muscles can also be effective in treating severe sleep apnea.
Treatment
If left untreated sleep apnea can have serious consequences to the heart, vascular system and the overall health of an individual. Repeated episodes of decreased oxygen levels can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, depression, memory loss and headaches. In extreme cases, obstructive sleep apnea can cause stroke or even death.
A person with obstructive sleep apnea experiences a blockage of the airway, resulting in a lack of oxygen to the brain and body. The obstruction usually occurs when the tongue falls against the back of the throat during sleep and a partial collapse of soft tissue occurs. Eventually the obstruction clears, and breathing resumes, often with a loud gasp.
Our team of experts in airway dentistry can treat obstructive sleep apnea Russellville KY. Unlike traditional treatments that involve wearing a mask while sleeping, Inspire therapy is a breakthrough implantable device that works inside your mouth to maintain an open airway while you sleep. This innovative technology is based on stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve and the muscles that keep the throat open. It is controlled by a handheld remote that allows you to turn the device on before bed, change the intensity of stimulation and pause your Inspire therapy during the night if necessary.