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You may not realize that snoring is acutally a sleep disorder. If you suffer from snoring or another more serious sleep disorder Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you are not alone. Sleep disorders are not uncommon at all, in fact approximately 1/3 of our population has a sleep disorder of some kind.
And the annoying sounds of snoring should not be ignored. Snoring is a slowly ticking time bomb heralding a diminished quality of life for both the snorer and their household. Snoring is a narrowing of the upper airway, which leads to the vibration of the pharyngeal (throat) soft tissues (partial obstruction of the airway).
And unfortunately, if you snore you have an increased risk of Heart Disease, Diabetes, Strokes and a number of other medical ailments. This condition is a very serious condition that can shorten your life by approximately 8 years!
Common Sleep Related Breathing Disorders
1. Snoring
By the age of 40:
- 40% of men snore
- 20% of women snore
By the age of 60:
- 60% of men snore
- 40% of women snore
2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is defined as a cessation of breathing/airflow for 10 seconds or more (full obstruction of the airway), which may occur many times during the evening.
OSA occurs when the airway collapses completely and the patient struggles to breathe. The pressure generated by the struggle further collapses the airway, causing a drop in blood oxygen levels and the awakening of the sufferer. People suffering from obstructive sleep apnea stop breathing many times during the night and only when the patient arouses from sleep can the obstruction be cleared. Each episode of apnea usually ends with a loud snore, snort, or chortling sound, as breathing resumes. Anyone can develop OSA at any age although it is more common in men. Women are more likely to develop OSA after menopause as hormonal changes affect the tissue tone of the airway.
OSA is graded as mild, moderate or severe. Typically, sleep apnea is considered mild when the patient has from five to ten arousals from sleep (“events”) per hour, moderate when the patient has eleven to 20 events per hour, and severe when the patient has more than 20 events per hour. Some patients only exhibit apnea, or the apnea becomes more severe, during rapid eye movement (“REM”) sleep. The airway is most susceptible to collapse during REM sleep. Arousal during REM sleep is especially harmful to the patient because it is during REM sleep that the organism gains the restorative and regenerative benefits from sleep. Without REM sleep the subject will not feel refreshed from the sleep period and is subject to the many medical consequences of sleep deprivation.
OSA is more common then asthma and sufferers have 3 times more diabetes than those without OSA. 38,000 deaths are attributed to OSA each and every year (i.e. Reggie Jackson)
Dental Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment (OSA) is within the realm of medical care. It is offered by the doctors of MDA & ASSAI because of their unique training in the care and management of a variety of orthopedic imbalances of the head, neck and upper airway. By using sophisticated equipment such as the Acoustic Reflection Rhinometry, Acoustic Reflection Pharynygometry and the 3 dimensional x-ray scan the efficacy of your care can be measured and monitored. The reason medical professionals like this therapy is for precisely that reason. They know that their patients are well cared for at MDA and our sister practice, The Arizona Snoring and Sleep Apnea Institute.
Nicholas J. Meyer, DDS is an Arizona sleep dentist and a sleep apnea expert in Scottsdale and Phoenix at Millenium Dental Associates
http://www.milldental.com
DrMeyer@Milldental.com
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