Do you suffer from fatigue? Have you caught yourself falling asleep unintentionally throughout the day? Do your family members complain that you snore loudly? Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night gasping for breath or choking? If you answered “yes” to the questions located above, you may have sleep apnea.
One in fifteen Americans is affected by sleep apnea. In fact, sleep apnea is the most undiagnosed medical disorder in the United States. When left untreated, sleep apnea can cause a plethora of other medical issues and can increase an individual’s cost of medical care by more than $1,200 annually. Additionally, undiagnosed sleep apnea costs Americans approximately $3.4 billion annually.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that occurs when the tissues in the back of your throat collapse during sleep. When this occurs, your airways are blocked and the amount of oxygen delivered to the heart, brain and other organs is greatly diminished. For this reason, people suffering from sleep apnea often wake up hundreds of times during the night often without ever realizing they are waking up. This leaves sufferers exhausted and unhealthy.
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine. This machine generates pressurized air that is delivered to the sleeping person via a mask that covers the mouth or the nose. Many patients can not tolerate a CPAP machine and simply discard it after trying to use it for a few nights. When sleep apnea is left untreated, the symptoms return quickly, resulting in unrefreshing sleep and illness. For this reason, a CPAP may not be the best choice for all sleep apnea sufferers.
Alternative to CPAP
There is a better option for those who can not tolerate a CPAP machine- an oral appliance. This device can be designed by the trained dentists at Shine Dental Associate in Syosset, Long Island. Oral appliances look similar to mouth guards; however, they are designed to keep your airways open while you are sleeping. Oral appliances reposition the soft palate, lower jaw, tongue and the uvula to help keep the upper airways unobstructed. Oral appliances stabilize the tongue and lower jaw bone which allows you to breath better through the night.
When wearing an oral appliance, you will be able to breath better and ensure that your body receives the oxygen it needs throughout the need. You will also sleep better, which will keep you healthier and energized. Finally, your family will be able to sleep better, which makes for a happier and healthier family.
So, if you live in Nassau County, or even in Western Suffolk and you would like to learn more about how we can help your sleep apnea, give us a call today!
