Snoring can be an early warning sign of sleep apnea. Almost all apnea sufferers snore. Sleep apnea is a condition where the individual stops breathing while asleep. These episodes can occur hundreds of times during the night. The vast majority of patients with this serious sleep disorder (more than 90%), are unaware of the diagnosis and don’t even know it’s happening.
Apnea sufferers awake exhausted, as they’ve been fighting for oxygen all night. Sleep apnea can also cause learning or memory disabilities, as well as periods of nodding off during the day. Sleep apnea patients are at a much greater risk of having auto accidents. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also contributes to high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke.
The traditional treatment for sleep apnea has been the CPAP device and, it remains the gold standard for moderate to severe sleep apnea. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure. The patient is fitted with a machine that pumps a continuous stream of air into the patient’s nose or mouth throughout the night. However, many people find this uncomfortable and they stop wearing the mask.
If you have sleep apnea and can’t tolerate or are frustrated with your CPAP, we can offer you an alternative treatment. Dr. Jackson can custom fit you with an oral appliance such as the SomnoMed™. It is a small acrylic device that fits over the upper and lower teeth similar to an orthodontic retainer or mouth guard. It gently realigns your tongue and jaw to open your airway and allow more air flow to the lungs as you sleep. They are easy to place and remove and easy to clean, and are convenient for travel. These devices are amazingly comfortable and have an excellent success rate for sleep apnea and snoring.
