Sleep apnea is a problematic disorder that essentially prevents a patient from receiving proper rest during sleeping hours. Caused oral and nasal passageway obstructions, sleep apnea can be treated a number of ways and treatment is often tailored to a patient’s unique needs after determining the underlying cause of this sleep disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea will not go away with time and thus requires professional treatment. Our oral surgeons offer long-term and short-term sleep apnea solutions.
How does sleep apnea affect sleep?
We spend about one third of our lives sleeping. Receiving enough rest is incredibly important to emotional health and physical wellbeing. Although the amount of hours spent sleeping matters, so does the quality of sleep. During periods of apnea, sleepers will literally stop breathing for small amounts of time. To resume proper breathing, the brain will send signals to wake the sleeper’s body slightly. Unfortunately, with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), this cycle of apnea and slight wakefulness will continue throughout the night, even hundreds of times. Undiagnosed and untreated OSA will eventually cause severe sleep deprivation because patients are unable to progress through each stage of sleep such as deep sleep and REM sleep. Patients with OSA often suffer from oxygen deprivation, which can affect overall health in a number of ways. Numerous scientific studies have linked sleep apnea to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and depression.
What types of treatments are available?
The type of treatment a patient with OSA receives depends on the underlying cause of their condition along with considering lifestyle factors. Sometimes, patients can improve their ability to breathe properly during sleep by avoiding certain medications, losing weight, and abstaining from tobacco use. Professional treatments include the use of oral appliances to reposition the mouth, masks that deliver continuous air pressure to keep airways open, and surgical treatments that remove bulky or excessive throat and nasal tissue.
To determine the severity and underlying cause of sleep apnea, patients will need to undergo a sleep study and schedule a consultation with our skilled team of oral surgeons.
To make an appointment, contact Texas Oral Surgery Specialists today.