Is going to bed at night with a partner who snores killing the romance? Many couples end up sleeping in separate rooms just to escape the disturbing sounds and get a good night’s rest. Some people even admit that they can’t sleep at night because they’re worried the person next to them may not wake up in the morning?
Unfortunately, this is what many people go to bed thinking about. If you suffer from sleep apnea and snoring, this could be a worry YOUR loved ones have. There are multiple ways that nighttime breathing disorders have negative impact on your health, but the most severe side effect of sleep apnea is death. According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to suddenly die of heart complications between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
This may sound extreme, but your body and vital organs need oxygen to function, and sleep apnea is depriving your body of oxygen. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential for your longevity as well as quality of life for you and those around you.
Sleep Apnea and Snoring are Hurting You and Scaring Your Loved Ones.
Sleep apnea is defined by the amount of times you stop breathing in an hour during sleep. Let that sink in. If you suffer from sleep apnea, you literally have times during the night that no oxygen is entering your body.
Snoring is an audible sign that oxygen is struggling to get through your airway and reach your lungs. Those who hear snoring should not ignore the sound, but instead treat it as an alarm going off, alerting you that the snorer is not receiving proper amounts of oxygen.
Some symptoms of sleep apnea are:
- waking up multiple times in the night to urinate
- waking up gasping for air
- being overly tired during the day
- falling asleep at inappropriate times
You may not even know you are having apnea episodes while you sleep, especially if you sleep alone. So look for symptoms like daytime drowsiness, depression, anxiety, and erectile dysfunction.
Sleep Apnea is Damaging to Your Overall Health.
Sleep is important for your overall health, especially the health and function of your brain. Stage 3 sleep, followed by good REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep allows your body to heal and regenerate by processing hormones and proteins. REM is the stage of sleep when your brain is able to spend time working on itself, organizing your memory and processing information from the day. This
function is especially important for decision making, both personally and professionally.
REM – deep sleep – is also when you experience dreams. So your dream about a former relationship or cowboys riding dinosaurs in space only means that your brain is working on itself. If you’re not dreaming, you may be deprived of the most beneficial stages of sleep.
Sleep Apnea Affects How You Function
When you don’t get enough sleep you tend to make poor decisions and have difficulty focusing, you eat more carbs and snacks, are less likely to exercise, and you may become absent-minded. Perhaps the most terrifying side effect of untreated or improperly treated sleep apnea is DEATH. Falling asleep at inappropriate times can also lead to death. In the Greater New Orleans, Mandeville, and Covington areas, falling asleep while driving can can be especially dangerous. Whether you’re commuting on I-10 or I-12 or crossing the Causeway bridge, driving tired puts you and loved ones or others on the road in danger.
Who has sleep apnea?
You can’t tell just by looking at someone. Contrary to what many may think, gender, age, and BMI (body mass index) are not true indicators of sleep apnea. Both men and women, adults and children, can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. A 300 pound linebacker may not have sleep apnea, while an olympic marathon runner or an allergic 4th grader might.
Apnea is a medical condition and therefore only a physician can legally diagnose sleep apnea. The only way to truly determine if someone has sleep apnea is for a physician, preferably a Board Certified Sleep Physician, to order a sleep study, and get an official diagnosis.
A dentist can perform and read a home sleep study, may be present for a sleep study (especially if an oral appliance is being used), and can be trained in reading and understanding a sleep study. However, a dentist cannot diagnose sleep apnea and therefore should not treat sleep apnea without coordinating with the patient’s physician.
How can I treat obstructive sleep apnea and snoring?
Seek help. Ask your primary care physician or your dentist if he or she has expertise in dental sleep medicine. A knowledgeable dentist or your primary care physician should be able to make a referral to a Board Certified Sleep Physician. Depending on your specific case and diagnosis, your Sleep Doctor could prescribe one of a few different options: CPAP machine, surgery, or a custom fitted oral appliance. From there, success of treatment depends solely on patient compliance.
Though the CPAP is the gold standard in sleep treatment, the custom fitted appliance (a specially designed mouthguard that comfortably holds your jaw forward during sleep) statistically has the best compliance. It’s compact, discreet, easy to travel with, and most importantly, effective.
CPAP is Not Sexy.
Let’s face it, no one sees a CPAP a
nd thinks “romance”. Plus, the sound can be disruptive, and the size can make getting through airport security a little more difficult when traveling .
MoreSMILES offers a quiet, portable appliance that, in many cases, can replace the CPAP machine. This custom fitted appliance, which looks like a mouth guard, holds your jaw forward during sleep to open your airway and prevent obstruction. Over a few appointments, Dr. Moreau slowly titrates your appliance to comfortably hold your lower jaw in the position that allows you to breathe during sleep.
During your initial sleep apnea consult, Dr. Moreau may refer you to a Certified Sleep Physician for a first or updated sleep study. Even if you already had one, it may need to be updated if it’s been more than 2-3 years. In many cases, the sleep study and treatment methods may be covered by your medical insurance. Dr. Moreau works with your Certified Sleep Physician to monitor your progress.
With expertise in TMJ disorder and the latest in 3D X-ray imaging, Dr. Moreau monitors your jaw joints before and during titration of a sleep appliance. Cone beam 3D imaging also allows him to evaluate the airway, ensuring you’re a good oral appliance candidate.
Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance
As a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Moreau is continuously advancing his knowledge and treatment protocols.
This appliance comes in several different forms, is FDA and TSA approved, portable, quiet, and comfortable. Your medical insurance could approve coverage, even if you already own a CPAP machine.
Start the Treatment Process Today!
Those diagnosed with, or afraid they have obstructive sleep apnea, should contact MoreSMILES today. Our 5-star certified team will work with you to schedule your initial sleep apnea consult with Dr. Moreau. Your appointment can be reserved for a time as early as next day or within the same week.