Getting a good night’s sleep is important to your overall health and being able to function effectively during the day. Unfortunately, approximately 25 million adults in the U.S. suffer from the asleep disorder. The most common sleep disorder is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) which is a chronic condition characterized by multiple, short interruptions of breathing during a person’s sleep cycle. These interruptions occur as the soft tissue, tongue or other throat structures collapse into a person’s airway to reduce the amount of oxygen in their body and brain. This triggers a cycle of events that wake up the affected individual from their deep sleep as they struggle to breathe.
Common signs and symptoms of OSA include fatigue, memory loss, and drowsiness. If you snore loudly, often feel tired, someone has observed you to stop breathing, have high blood pressure, have a BMI of over 35, are over 50 years old, and/or have other multiple heath issues, you should be tested for OSA.
Left untreated, OSA can lead to a variety of other health issues including
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Acid Reflux (GERD)
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Obesity
Dental Sleep Medicine is a branch of dental services that help people who snore or suffer from OSA with an oral appliance. The most commonly prescribed treatment by sleep physicians is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. Unfortunately, 50% of CPAP users either don’t use it consistently or wear it throughout the night because they are uncomfortable. This is where a dentist trained in sleep dentistry like Dr. Tang can help. Research shows that majority of OSA sufferers prefer using this simple oral appliance to open their airway because it is portable, quiet, and easy to wear.
If you snore loudly or suspect that you may have OSA, talk to Dr. Tang and his staff.