Sleep Apnea
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that causes your oxygen levels to drop while you are sleeping. There are 2 types of sleep apnea: Obstructive and Central. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a physical obstruction of your airway, while you are asleep, which results in cutting off your oxygen supply. Essentially, you are suffocating. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is caused by a malfunction in the brain that sends the signal for us to breathe. You basically "forget" to breathe. CSA is more complicated to treat than OSA. Some patients can have a combination of both OSA and CSA.
Many patients never realize that they might have a potential sleep apnea issue because they may not experience any common symptoms such as excessive daytime fatigue. This is why screening by a knowledgeable healthcare provider is crucial.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire helps to assess daytime fatigue - a risk factor for sleep apnea.
Are you at risk?
Click here to see for yourself:
How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
A sleep physician will order a sleep test (either in-home or in-lab study). Based upon the results, the sleep physician will make a diagnosis. Only a sleep medicine physician can make this diagnosis. A dentist cannot diagnose sleep apnea.
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
Depending on the severity and type of sleep apnea, your sleep physician will make recommendations for positional therapy, PAP therapy, dietary counseling and oral appliance therapy.
Dr. Wang is a board certified Orofacial Pain specialist with additional training and accreditation by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. If you have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, tried PAP therapy and it's not working for you, contact us to determine if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy. Please note that oral appliance therapy is not appropriate for those diagnosed with primary Central Sleep Apnea.
Health Risks for Untreated Sleep Apnea
Diseases Related to Untreated Sleep Apnea
Stroke
High blood pressure
Coronary artery disease
Congestive heart failure
High cholesterol
Asthma
Diabetes (Type 2)
Obesity
GERD/Reflux
Fatty liver
Symptoms of
Untreated Sleep Apnea
Poor quality sleep
Daytime sleepiness
Frequent nighttime urination
Mood disturbances
Loud snoring
Gasping for air during sleep
Difficulty paying attention
Waking with a dry mouth
Sexual dysfunction
Morning headache
If you have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea contact us to discuss treatment options.
Call us today: 773.873.6372