Sleep Apnea

Many people suffering from sleep apnea don’t even know they have it. What is sleep apnea? The breathing passageway becomes obstructed, making breathing during sleep difficult and causing long pauses in breathing lasting for a few seconds to several minutes.

Because pauses in breathing cause you to come out of deep sleep, sleep apnea seriously affects your sleep quality. Are you tired all day? You may be suffering from sleep apnea, a leading cause of chronic daytime fatigue.

There are two types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, is caused by a collapse or blockage of the airway during sleep. Because the airway is blocked, forcing the air through may cause snoring. This type of sleep apnea most commonly occurs in people with a long soft palate, large tonsils, excessive tongue relaxation, excessive fleshy tissue, or weight issues.
• Central sleep apnea originates in the brain and occurs less frequently than obstructive sleep apnea. This condition is the result of lack of communication, when the brain forgets to trigger the muscles that control breathing during sleep.

Sleep apnea is often overlooked. It is extremely hard for a doctor to detect sleep apnea during an office visit, and there are no lab tests for the problem.

The reason for this is obvious: sleep apnea occurs while you’re sleeping. One of the first signs you might notice is snoring, and this is usually observed by a family member or bed partner.

• Snoring
• Pauses in breathing
• Cessation of breathing noticed by your bed partner
• Choking or gasping while sleeping
• Restless sleep
• Daytime drowsiness and fatigue
• Inability to concentrate
• Loss of memory
• Chest pain at night
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Headaches in the morning
• GERD (reflux)

The Academy of Sleep Medicine and the National Institutes of Health has recommended oral appliance therapy as a treatment for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and in cases of CPAP mask intolerance.

If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, you have several options for treatment. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, masks and surgery are commonly used, but there are less invasive options including the use of oral sleep appliances.

Many consider CPAP to be the best treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP pushes continuous air pressure into the throat through the nose. This pressure pushes the tongue, soft palate, and other soft tissues back so that they no longer obstruct the airway. Since the pressure is constant, a CPAP user must breathe through the nose. Breathing through the mouth will allow the air to escape.

A dual pressure CPAP is called a Bi-PAP. It increases pressure during the inhale and reduces the pressure on exhale, making the device more comfortable.

Surgical procedures are another option for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, from simple outpatient procedures to more complex ones. Their efficacy can range from poor to good. Because of the invasive nature of surgical sleep apnea treatments, oral appliances are a more attractive option.

Dr. Patel treats sleep apnea patients from Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, and other nearby townships. We can help you return to better sleep, and a greater quality of life with appropriate sleep apnea treatment.

Contact Aliso Smiles today for your appointment with Dr. Sajit Patel.