How is Sleep Apnea Treated? Treatment Options

Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, oral appliances, breathing devices and surgery.  The goals of treating sleep apnea are to restore regular breathing during sleep and to relieve symptoms, such as loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. Without the benefits of treating sleep apnea you may be stuck with a negative impact on your life.

Treatment may reduce the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Lifestyle Changes may relieve Mild Sleep Apnea:

·       lose excess weight

·       avoid alcohol, tranquilizers, sleeping pills

·       sleep on the side or abdomen rather than on the back

·       keep the nasal passages open at night

·       stop smoking

For more information on sleep apnea contact, Dr. Anna Lee & her team today.

How is Sleep Apnea diagnosed?

Leaving sleep apnea undiagnosed can cause disruptions to your life. Not only can it cause problems with attention to detail, loss of job, depression and anger. When sleep apnea is left untreated it can lead to death. If you or someone you love is suffering from sleep apnea contact Dr. Lee and her team today for help.

Medical doctors diagnose sleep apnea based on medical and family histories, a physical exam and sleep study results. The physician decides whether the patient needs to be treated by a sleep specialist.

There are 2 sleep tests to detect sleep apnea:

·      Nocturnal Polysomnography-it is performed at sleep centers or sleep labs.  The patient is hooked up to equipment that monitors the heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while the patient is sleeping.

·      Home Sleep Test-the patient is provided with simplified tests to be used at home to diagnose sleep apnea. These tests involve measuring the heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow and breathing patterns while the patient is sleeping.

For more information on sleep apnea contact Dr. Anna Lee and her team today.

Complications Caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea can impact not only your sleep but your day-to-day life. If you feel overly tired and can’t seem to wake up, even after you have slept a full night, you may have sleep apena. Contact Dr. Lee & her team for help.

Here are some of the medical & non-medical problems caused by untreated OSA:

·       increased  risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and/or atrial fibrillation

·       increased  risk of diabetes

·       liver problems

·       headaches, impotence, and weight gain

·       memory problems and depression

·       daytime fatigue and work-related driving accidents

These are just a few of the side effects that can impact you. Dr. Anna Lee & her team can help you get your life back.

Who is at Risk?

Sleep apnea can affect anyone, even children.  Men are more likely than women to have sleep apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can occur at any age, the risk increases as you get older.  A family history of sleep apnea also increases the risk for the condition.

Risk factors:

·       overweight, 4 times greater risk of sleep apnea than those with normal weight

·       being male, over 40 years old

·       being older

·       family history

·       small airways in the noses, throats, or mouths are more likely to have sleep apnea

·       allergy problems, nasal congestion

·       use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers      

·       smoker

*Small children who have enlarged tonsil tissues are at risk for sleep apnea. Children who are overweight also be at risk for sleep apnea.

Untreated pediatric sleep apnea can lead to mood problems, hyperactivity, inattentiveness, poor school performances, angry and hostile behaviors.  Children also have an increased risk of later cardiovascular diseases.

Pediatric OSA is usually and most effectively treated by surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids.

For more information on sleep apnea and how to treat it with a dental device, contact Dr. Anna Lee.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

“Sleep apnea can be caused by multiple factors. Finding out why you have sleep apnea is as important as what course of action you have to treat sleep apnea,” says Dr.Anna Lee.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax. When the muscles relax, the airway narrows and prevents air from flowing into and out of the lungs. The lack of air flow lowers the level of oxygen in the blood and triggers the brain to disrupt the sleep. This disruption helps to reopen the airway and normal breathing starts again, often with a loud snort or choking sound.

The snoring, choking or gasping sound can repeat 5 to 30 times or more each hour, all night long.  These disruptions impair sleep quality and can trigger the release of stress hormones.  These stress hormones raise the heart rate and increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).

For more information on sleep apnea, contact Dr. Lee and her team today!