What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic respiratory condition in which the collapsing part of your throat temporarily blocks your upper airway. This intermittent obstacle deprives your brain and lungs of oxygen.
Though your spouse or partner may discover some of your sleeping problems before you do, there are several symptoms of sleep apnea you’re likely to report firsthand:
- Very loud snoring
- Low quality of sleep quality (insomnia or waking up a lot)
- Trouble concentrating
- Poor level of energy
- Excessive drowsiness (unsafe for driving, for example)
- Morning headaches or sore throats
Serious complications can come from untreated sleep apnea, including diabetes, hypertension, and depression. If left untreated, you also risk having a stroke or heart attack.
What causes obstructive sleep apnea?
There are many possible causes of OSA, but multiple factors can increase your risk:
- Being male
- Carrying extra weight or being obese
- Reaching age 40
- Having a small jaw bone
- Having a deviated septum
- Having a large neck, tongue, or tonsils
- Developing acid reflux, sinus infection, or other respiratory restrictions
How is obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed?
Dr. Palmieri prefers to use a Planmeca® 3D X-ray machine to measure the volume of your upper airway, but there are many ways to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. For example, you can record the volume of your snoring and gauge your airflow with sensors.
How is obstructive sleep apnea treated?
For mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Palmieri’s first choice of treatment is a mandibular advancement device.
Similar to an oral night guard, mandibular advancement devices are specialized mouthpieces that help keep your upper airway open during sleep. They realign your jaw and hyoid bones to prevent your throat’s soft tissues from collapsing and cutting off your airflow.
Dr. Palmieri customizes your oral device to fit in your mouth as comfortably as possible during sleep.
For severe cases, he sometimes recommends the surgical method of mandibular maxillomandibular advancement instead, which permanently corrects throat or facial problems that interrupt your breathing.
Of course, these treatments often work best in conjunction with lifestyle changes to help you lose excess weight or sleep better. His advice may include cutting back on alcohol consumption, avoiding sleeping pills, and trying to sleep on your side or front instead of your back.
Break the cycle of interrupted nights and low-energy days. Call or book an appointment online now.
