Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea
Do you snore?

Sleep disordered breathing is associated with reduced quality of life, decreased cardiovascular health, motor vehicle accidents and mortality. Several effective treatments have been shown to improve quality of life and cardiovascular health. The majority of Canadians with sleep disordered breathing, remain undiagnosed and untreated. Obesity is a major risk factor for sleep apnea.
Sleepiness, the hallmark symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, increases the rate of motor vehicle crashes and work-related accidents.

Common Signs And Sleep Apnea Symptoms:

  • Excessively loud or chronic snoring
  • Long pauses in breathing
  • Shallow breathing
  • Struggling to breathe properly (including choking, snorting or gasping for air)
  • Sleepiness during the day, no matter how long you sleep for.
Side Effects of Sleep Apnea include the following:

  • Decreased blood oxygen level:  Since breathing is interrupted, when a person has sleep apnea, the oxygen level in the blood decreases while the level of carbon dioxide increases. Having low blood oxygen levels can also affect the brain resulting in equilibrium and memory deficiency.
  • Compromised immune system:  The immune system of an individual suffering of sleep apnea becomes impaired because they don’t receive enough sleep. Constant sleep deprivation reduces the ability of the immune system to fight infection.
  • Development of Diabetes Mellitus:  Diabetes can also be a sleep apnea side effect. Studies have found that patients with obstructive sleep apnea are more than two and one-half times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Scientists theorize that high levels of the hormone cortisol that are produced as a result of the stress caused by sleep apnea lead to increased resistance to insulin and glucose intolerance.
  • Daytime sleepiness and fatigue:  Alertness and memory function of a person is affected due to decreased cognitive function with sleep apnea.
  • Irritability, short-temperedness, anxiety and depression:  As sleep apnea can cause sleepiness and fatigue, when a person is sleep deprived, it affects all aspects their temperament both at home and at work.
  • Headache and migraine:  Because of disturbed sleep that leads to blood-oxygen depletion and constriction of the small blood vessels in the brain, morning headaches and migraines can occur.
  • Sexual function problems:  Another side effect of sleep apnea is sexual dysfunction in both men and women. Blood oxygen deficiency in major body organs can result from sleep apnea. There are medical reports stating that men with sleep apnea have problems initiating and sustaining an erection. Studies also find that women with OSA have a significant decrease in sexual function.
  • Obesity:  Aside from being one of the causes of sleep apnea, obesity can also be a side effect of sleep apnea. Hormonal imbalances caused by sleep apnea contribute to weight gain.
  • Snoring:  Snoring is one of the most common side effects of sleep apnea and one of the biggest indicators that sleep apnea is present.
  • Frequent nighttime urination or nocturia:  Sleep apnea causes increased pressure on the right side of the heart as a result of low oxygen levels in the blood. Since increased pressure is also a sign of excess body fluids, doctors believe the body responds by secreting a hormone called atrial natriuretic peptide which is a diuretic and causes sufferers to urinate more frequently.
  • High Blood Pressure:  Hypertension is a common side effect of sleep apnea. Studies show that people with moderate to severe sleep apnea are more than twice as likely to also suffer from high blood pressure. Those suffering from sleep apnea and high blood pressure are also more likely to experience other complications such as heart and kidney damage as well as stroke.
In direct contrast to the general population, patients with obstructive sleep apnea have increased deaths from cardiac causes when asleep.

Constriction or narrowing of the throat can happen for many reasons: large tonsils, a long soft palate or uvula, excessive flabby tissue (in those who are overweight), nasal congestion from allergies or infections, cartilage deformities in the nose or nasal structure.
The most common cause, however, is a tongue muscle which relaxes too much during sleep and allows the tongue to be sucked back into the airway with each breath.
You should also wear a medical alert bracelet that says you have sleep apnea.

Who is most at risk for obstructive sleep apnea?

Anyone of any age can get obstructive sleep apnea. Your risk is higher if you have a combination of these risk factors:
  • You are obese (overweight).
  • You have a large, thick neck (larger than 17 inches for men; larger than 16 inches for women).
  • Your family has a history of obstructive sleep apnea.
  • You are male.
  • You are older than 40.
  • You have large tonsils.
  • You have a recessed chin (your chin tucks in).

Dental appliances for obstructive sleep apnea

If you have mild or moderate sleep apnea, your doctor may suggest you use a dental appliance. The dental appliance fits over your teeth. You wear it at night. It holds your tongue and jaw towards the front of your mouth, so they don’t slip back and block your airway.

To get fitted for a dental appliance, contact our office.


Health risks if you do not treat your sleep apnea:

Sleep apnea is not just an annoying habit; it is a serious condition. It could even kill you. If you do nothing about your sleep apnea, you put yourself at higher risk for diseases, accidents, and early death.

 

Lifestyle changes to treat obstructive sleep apnea:
Lose weight:  Overweight people can have extra tissue around their necks- this tissue can block their airway. By losing weight, you can shrink the tissue around your airway, and allow more air to pass to your lungs.

Avoid alcohol and sedatives:  (medicines that make you sleepy). Alcohol and sedatives can make your throat muscles relax too much, allowing your airway to close off. If you avoid alcohol and sedatives, you may be able to keep your airway open.

Sleep on your side, not your back:  Some people only get obstructive sleep apnea when they sleep on their backs. Sleeping on your back lets gravity pull on the tissues at the back of your throat and neck. This can make your airway narrow or make it collapse completely. You can train yourself to sleep on you side by:

  • putting pillows against your back to prop yourself on your side.
  • using the “tennis ball trick”: sew a pocket onto the back of your pajama top and put a tennis ball in it. If you start to roll to your back during sleep, the pressure from the ball will make you roll back onto to your side.
Lifestyle changes don’t work for everyone, and may not work forever. As you get older or if you gain weight, these simple solutions may no longer treat your sleep apnea symptoms. Keep track of your symptoms. If they come back, see your doctor.
Any Questions?  Contact us!