Keep Calm and Sleep On Without Sleep Apnea

Disclosure: This post and giveaway are sponsored by American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. This is an educational post about sleep apnea.

Keep Calm and Sleep On Without Sleep Apnea

My wife has told me before, that I have some sort of sleep apnea. She, has mentioned on several accounts that I should see a specialist about my snoring or sleep apnea. This has been going on for years and luckily my wife has tolerated it for so long with out treatment. Honestly I have taken the time to make an appointment because I don’t know enough about sleep apnea or a ideal solution for me.

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) has more than 3,000 member dentists worldwide and is the only non-profit national professional society dedicated exclusively to the practice of dental sleep medicine. AADSM wants to educate people like you and me on sleep apnea and the best solutions at this time.

About Sleep Apnea

What is Sleep Apnea – Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition that causes people to suddenly stop breathing during sleep anywhere from about 10 seconds to more than a minute. This can happen up to hundreds of times a night. Currently, more than 12 to 18 million U.S. adults suffer from sleep apnea.

The Risk – Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition that can increase the risk for serious health problems, including:

• Congestive heart failure
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Depression
• Impotence

The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea – Load, frequent and habitual snoring. Breathing during sleep that abruptly stops.

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)

What is Oral Appliance Therapy? – Pioneered by dentists, oral appliance therapy is an effective alternative to the standard continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and mask. It uses a “mouth guard-like” device worn only during sleep to maintain an open, unobstructed airway. Oral appliance therapy devices prevent the airway from collapsing, typically by supporting the jaw in a forward position. There are currently more than 80 different styles of oral appliance therapy devices that have received FDA clearance.

Treatment Options: Oral Appliance Therapy and CPAP

• CPAP is the standard treatment for sleep apnea.
• Because CPAP involves sleeping with a mask that forces air through your nose/mouth, it can be hard for some patients to tolerate.
• Up to 50 percent of sleep apnea patients do not comply with or tolerate CPAP, which ultimately means many people with sleep apnea are opting not to treat this serious disease.
• Try a sleep clinic like the Oklahoma City sleep clinic
• Oral appliance therapy often can equal CPAP in effectiveness and achieve higher compliance.
• Many patients prefer oral appliance therapy devices to CPAP masks because they are comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable and easy to care for.

Things to Know and Walk Away With

1. People should consult a sleep physician if any of the sleep apnea warning signs are present in a household.

2. Readers can visit localsleepdentist.com to learn more about OAT if they – or their spouse – exhibit any sleep apnea indicators.