Are you always complaining about your partner’s loud snoring? Loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness are the two most common symptoms experienced by someone with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). OSA is a situation in which the entire upper airway is blocked causing airflow to stop. Snoring is created by the vibration in the airway tissues as air passes through a narrowed passageway. According to the National Institute of Health, untreated OSA can take up to 12-15 years off your life. Smoking takes about 7-10 years and Type 2 Diabetes about 5-10 years.
The most effective treatment for OSA is the CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure). Although highly effective, people are frequently non-compliant with CPAP. Other treatments include oral appliances that open the airway, surgery and weight loss. If you have been diagnosed with OSA from a board-certified sleep physician and cannot tolerate the CPAP you may be a candidate for a customized oral appliance made by our dentists in Gainesville. Not all appliances are made equally and no one position works for all people, which is why most generic snore guards you can buy are ineffective.
Why do we need good sleep? There are many important things happening in your body when you are effectively reaching the different stages of sleep. Restorative functions such as hormone secretions and immune system functions are imperative to maintain your health when we are awake. Stay tuned for more on the various stages of sleep and why you may be negatively affecting your health living with untreated OSA.