Your health may be in jeopardy. And you may be leaving this planet sooner than you anticipated.
You think you have a simple snoring problem. That simple problem can lead to severe health concerns. Even death. Not so simple now – is it?
Sufficient rest and sleep are fundamental to your overall health. You need air. You need water. You need food. You need sleep. It is essential that your brain and body have the time it requires, to re-boot every single day. We spend 1/3 of our lives asleep, and yet we pay little to no attention to what happens to us when we're in this state!
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing during sleep.
It is important to emphasize that, often, the person who has obstructive sleep apnea does not remember the episodes of apnea during the night. The main symptoms are usually associated with excessive daytime sleepiness due to poor sleep during the night. Often, family members, especially spouses, witness the periods of no breathing.
A person with obstructive sleep apnea usually snores heavily soon after falling asleep. The snoring continues at a regular pace for a period of time, often becoming louder, but is then interrupted by a long silent period during which there is no breathing. This is followed by a loud snort and gasp, and the snoring returns. This pattern repeats frequently throughout the night.
Symptoms that may be observed include:
- Abnormal daytime sleepiness, including falling asleep at inappropriate times
- Awakening unrefreshed in the morning
- Depression (possibly)
- Episodes of no breathing (apnea)
- Lethargy
- Loud snoring
- Memory difficulties
- Morning headaches
- Personality changes
- Poor concentration
- Restless sleep
- Nocturnal Bruxing
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
- Hyperactive behavior, especially in children
- Leg swelling (if severe)
Effects of sleep apnea on health
Sleep apnea has serious health consequences and can even be life-threatening. The main effects of sleep apnea are sleep deprivation and oxygen deprivation.
Sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation hurts the person with sleep apnea and the bed partner. Frequent waking, whether remembered or not, causes fitful sleep and prohibits therapeutic rest. A bed partner may lose an hour or more of sleep each night from sleeping next to a person with sleep apnea. Along with the apnea episodes, side effects like excessive sweating and a frequent need to urinate disrupt sleep.
Often, a person with sleep apnea will wake up feeling like they have not slept or have difficulty staying awake during the day. Some trickle-down effects of sleep deprivation include a compromised immune system, poor mental and emotional health, and irritability.
Oxygen deprivation
When you stop breathing, your brain does not get enough oxygen. Serious problems can result from the oxygen deprivation of sleep apnea, including heart disease, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, and learning/memory problems.
Depression and sleep apnea
Approximately one in five people who suffer from depression also suffer from sleep apnea, and people with sleep apnea are five times more likely to become depressed. Existing depression may also be worsened by sleep apnea. While it is not clear whether the apnea causes the depression or vice-versa, studies show that by treating sleep apnea symptoms, depression may be alleviated in some people.
What happens when you have an episode of sleep apnea?
When you stop breathing during sleep due to sleep apnea, the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood is upset. This imbalance stimulates the brain to restart the breathing process. The brain signals you to wake up so that the muscles of the tongue and throat can increase the size of the airway. Then, carbon dioxide can escape, and oxygen can enter the airway. These waking episodes are necessary to restart breathing (and to save your life), and you may not remember them, but they do disrupt your sleep and cause daytime exhaustion.
Is snoring the same as sleep apnea?
Snoring is not the same as sleep apnea. Snoring is simply a loud sound that you make during breathing while asleep if there is any obstruction in your airway. While it may be unpleasant for your sleep partner, snoring is not in itself a harmful condition. However, most people with sleep apnea do snore and anyone who snores and shows other signs of sleep apnea should have a sleep study completed to find out for sure.
What can Dr. Holtery do to help?
Dr. Holtery is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He has spent countless hours of study to further his knowledge of this epidemic disease, how to screen for it, and how to properly treat it. Many patients who suffer from OSA cannot tolerate their CPAP machines. These machines force air into the patients mouth, inflate them like a balloon, and allow vital oxygen to get to the lungs. As you can imagine, this is difficult to get used to and many choose not to wear their masks at all. Dr. Holtery can fabricate an intra-oral appliance that can be successfully used in mild to moderate OSA patients. This appliance is much more comfortable than the masks and many people who thought there were no more options for them can now get the rest they deserve. Call us or make an appointment today to get your life back!