The sleep apnea syndrome is receiving increasing attention from the medical community. Yet his diagnosis on a daily basis is the real puzzle. Very often it is highlighted in relation to a workplace accident or traffic.

1. Alert

Among the elements of the examination and clinical examination, snoring, apnea described by the surroundings, daytime sleepiness, obesity, male gender and systemic hypertension (HT) are suggestive of OSAS.

2. Diagnostic polysomnography

Nevertheless, the final diagnosis is based on a systematic registration night. Polysomnography performed in the sleep laboratory is the gold standard for diagnosis of OSAS. It provides comprehensive information on the evolution of states of alertness and sleep quality of the recorded subject and on the quality of her breathing.

The experts agree that it is unnecessary to record neurophysiological signals routinely as first-line before typical symptoms. A polygraph limited to cardio-respiratory signals, termed ventilatory polygraphy (PV), will be amply sufficient and technically much simpler to implement.

Technically, polysomnography allows simultaneous recording tracks of brain activity (electroencephalogram), extraocular muscles (electro-oculogram) to detect the phase known as “paradoxical” sleep, muscle tuft of chin (electromyogram), and the naso-oral airflow and thoracic and abdominal movements.

The respiratory signal recording aims the recognition of abnormal respiratory events (ERA), apnea, hypopnea, episodes of excessive inspiratory flow limitation, and the definition of obstructive or central character.

3. CPAP treatment

The treatment of sleep apnea is in most cases on the establishment of a medical device for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP or CPAP). This equipment is registered on the list of reimbursable products and services (ISL) for a weekly rental fee.

Support is provided by prior arrangement completed by the attending physician at the first requirement for a probationary period of five months, then once a year in renewals.

This support is provided for patients with daytime sleepiness at least three of the following symptoms: snoring, morning headaches, reduced alertness, libido disorders, high blood pressure (hypertension), nocturia. These symptoms must be associated with an apnea index (A) plus hypopneas (H) per hour of sleep (A + H) greater than or equal to 30, revealed by the polygraph analysis. If this index is below 30, it takes at least 10 microéveils per hour of sleep in connection with an increase in respiratory effort, documented by polysomnographic analysis.

The diagnosis is confirmed, the prescriber will propose a treatment based on a continuous positive airway pressure apparatus.
Two new players will then break into the patient’s life:

• The CPAP device and its share of constraints
• A provider of medico-technical services

4. Accepting the equipment to PPC

Successful treatment depends on acceptance by the patient himself, but also by his entourage of this equipment. In this learning phase, or rather education, the role of provider of medico-technical services is crucial.

• He will ensure proper adjustment of the mask and headgear, and to test more if necessary
• He will teach the patient and his entourage to learn and live with the camera
• He will provide hygiene and safety
• It is to him that the patient or his entourage will appeal if necessary
• He will be the interface between the patient and the prescriber if adjustment difficulties related to the level of pressure appear.

5. The importance of monitoring treatment

During this first phase of education, the provider will be very present to explain the grounds for the treatment, to make, after consulting the prescriber, the adaptations necessary to motivate some to continue treatment, in a word accompany the patient and his entourage for optimal treatment outcomes in place.

Then, when this phase is completed, the claimant will have at heart to meet the specifications related to the establishment of the medical device via at least twice a year to make a statement of compliance and perform operations preventive maintenance required. It was during these passages that he will renew the mask and patient circuit. Of course, always listen to the patient, it will increase the frequency of his visits when necessary. Finally, it should report these actions to the prescribing doctor and also ensure a fine of service, 24 hours and 7 days a x24 7.

6. The brace of mandibular advancement: an alternative to CPAP

The brace of mandibular advancement is a medical device that is placed in the mouth and that can only be tailor-made for your dental impressions. It helps maintain the lower jaw slightly forward position during sleep, thus freeing the passage of air in the pharynx and reduces the clogging phenomenon that generates the so-called obstructive apnea.

7. In which case is the brace a possible treatment?

It is not recognized the High Authority for Health (HAS) as an effective treatment of the syndrome of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in specific cases. It should be noted that the recommendation of the HAS does that orthotics. Orthotics universal – sold in pharmacies or by mail are not recommended as they have not proven their efficacy in the treatment of sleep apnea.

The orthosis can be prescribed for treatment of “first intention” for mild and moderate apnea who do not present a major cardiovascular risk, or excessive daytime sleepiness. It remains a second-line treatment – but under certain conditions – in case of failure or refusal of ventilation with CPAP for severe apnea. Finally, it can also be prescribed in conjunction with this CPAP ventilation through frequent travel.

8. How to be fitted with a brace?

The first step is to confirm sleep apnea and make this a recording of sleep. In most cases, ventilatory polygraphy at home is performed. In some cases, overnight polysomnography is performed in hospital. Based on this record, the pulmonologist confirm or reject the sleep apnea syndrome and possibly may prescribe a custom orthotic. It will then make an appointment with a dental specialist trained in this technique which will cover the patient for the realization of a brace. It takes an average of three appointments, with 10 to 15 days apart for good support. Between prescription and use of the device, including adjustment, it can take between 3 and 6 months. Because once the dentist has adjusted the splint, an appointment must be included in a sleep specialist to verify the effectiveness thereof. It will adjust the propulsion from the symptoms (fatigue, snoring), ensure good tolerance of the device and then verify its safety and dental joint. Subsequently, an appointment a year from your dentist is recommended for monitoring.

Snoring often is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, following are more detail on the treatment of sleep apnea.

First of all, you need to realize that snoring is not just a sound phenomenon, which prevents sleep around, but a reflection of the pathological processes occurring in the body. At the same time, snoring is a risk factor for such terrible diseases and conditions like hypertension (arterial giperotniya), various cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, sudden death, obesity, diabetes, depression.

Snoring is one of the types of disorders of breathing during sleep, and often is only a symptom of a much more dangerous condition – obstructive sleep apnea (sleep apnea).

If:

• You are told that you snore loudly and periodically stop breathing during sleep
• You have a restless, with frequent waking dream
• In the morning you feel overwhelmed, tired, hardly awake
• During the day marked a painful drowsiness, frequent headaches upon awakening
• You are scattered, are irritable, can not concentrate on work
• Concerned about hypertension, especially in the night and morning hours
• Progressively increasing body weight
• Have problems in sexual life

Then you might have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This condition frequently occurs in chronically snoring people and is manifested by periodic cessation of breathing during sleep. Sometimes it can be observed up to 400-500 pauses in breathing per night total of up to 3-4 hours. This leads to a permanent lack of oxygen in the night period, and significantly increases the risk of serious cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, stroke and sudden death during sleep.

Chronic sleep disturbances lead to impotence, memory loss, etc.

The main adverse consequence of obstructive sleep apnea (sleep apnea) is a dramatic disruption of sleep structure. For a man, not snoring, just to be in “skin” snorer. To do this, you need to just … do not sleep one night. Feeling of weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, confusion “of consciousness, heaviness in the head, here’s a typical day state Khrapunov and patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (apnea sleepy).

Diagnosis of the disease by means of polysomnography – a method of prolonged recording of various physiological functions during sleep, which allows accurate diagnosis of the disease and assess its severity, from which depends largely on the tactics of treatment.

We hope that we have been able to draw your attention to the disease stops breathing during sleep. If you notice any symptoms of trouble, do not postpone a visit to a sleep doctor. The disease is progressive and can lead to serious complications. However, during the prescribed treatment can in most cases to prevent unwanted effects and significantly improve your quality of life.

The CPAP therapy has been successfully used for the treatment of apnea during sleep. In the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) treatment, the airways by slight pressure pneumatic splint and prevents apnea.

1. Sleep Laboratory

In the sleep laboratory, the sleep of the patients studied by polysomnography. During the night several vital functions, such as Brain waves, eye movements, respiration, muscle tension and oxygen saturation recorded. The next morning, the results are evaluated by a sleep specialist. The second night, the patient is asleep, if necessary, with a CPAP device. It is tested with the pressure the pauses in breathing can be reduced to a minimum.

2. Appliances

Modern CPAP devices are small, quiet and easy to transport. Via a hose system and a breathing mask to the patient room air is supplied via the respiratory mask. The slight positive pressure thus preventing apneas and hypopneas.

Further developments of the CPAP and BiLevel devices are AutoCPAP equipment devices. In the AutoCPAP devices required therapy pressure to the individual needs of the patient is automatically adjusted. In a bilevel device can be adjusted for different pressures and exhalation.

Detailed records of the data in the device helps the physician to monitor the success of the treatment. The useful life is saved and lends them a guide to compliance.

3. Breathing mask

The most important link between the device and patient is the CPAP mask. They come in various designs and sizes. A distinction between the nose masks, nose masks, olive, oral masks and full face masks. The CPAP mask has to fit the anatomy of the user, since this would cause pressure points and leaks. You can prevent this by choosing the correct size and type of CPAP mask.

4. Heated Humidifier

The continuous stream of air with CPAP therapy, the airways dry out. If you have already suffered prior to CPAP treatment in dry airways, a heated humidifier to bring relief. The Atembefeuchter is inserted between generator and CPAP breathing tube and moistened so the airway during the treatment. When using a hot-air humidifier must be respected absolutely hygiene, germinate otherwise humidifiers, breathing tube and mask can.

5. Nasal Irrigation

Especially helpful may be a douche. The use of nasal irrigation can be used with dry nasal mucous, colds, sinus problems, allergies, hay fever and rhinitis. For daily care of the nose, we recommend a good nose oil.

Glossary

• Apnea – breathing stops
• AHI (apnea-hypopnea index) – the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour of sleep.
• AI (Apnea Index) – number of apneas per hour of sleep.
• CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)
• HI (hypopnea index) – the number of hypopneas per hour of sleep.
• Hypopnea – the reduction in airflow by at least 50%.

In everyday life, as nutritionists or dietitians, we often meet with a victim to sleep apnea syndrome. It is breathing stops during sleep and clinical symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems or heart failure. Many sufferers hope to gain by a change in diet to improve their situation. Although the disease with changes in eating habits can not be cured, however, the quality of life improves in most cases.

1. Overweight

Obesity is a common burden in people with sleep apnea. We recommend a gradual weight loss to a greeting and goal weight, and above all, a long-term stabilization of the new weight. Do need to work on your physical performance, because the respiratory muscles. Schedule regular exercise in fresh air and take long walks or get your shopping on a bike.

2. Alcohol

Although small amounts of alcohol can promote sleep, alcohol interferes with sleep quality. It influences our nervous system and usually causes a relaxation of the respiratory muscles. The body, which is in the sleep in a rest-and-up phase, employ must be after the evening of beer, wine or liquor with the removal of the alcohol. Most people sleep drink and a fast, frequent snoring and wake up again quickly. They thus suffer from a disturbed sleep pattern, because the deep sleep phases, which occur in important recreational activities are suppressed.

3. Coffee and tea

Both of these beverages have an individually different impact on the course and severity of apnea. We recommend any caffeinated beverages before bed rest.

4. Dinner time

Plan your dinner at least three hours before bed rest, because a full stomach presses while lying on the diaphragm and makes breathing further. The adage: Eat like a king in the morning, afternoon and evening as a citizen as a beggar has great validity.

5. Digestion

Do you plan hard to digest foods such as cheeses, legumes, cruciferous vegetables and mushroom dishes for lunch and choose the best light dinner.

Tell your relatives about your environment and sleep apnea, especially if you have diabetes. Sleepiness can be signs of a derailed blood sugar metabolism. Tell your environment, how to react in certain symptoms.

The sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in children is not as common as in adults.After all, about two percent of small children are involved. Depending on the age of the children come from different sleep disorders frequently:

• Infants

Inadequate sleep duration and / or staying asleep

• Preschool children

Nightmares, startle night (night terrors), sleepwalking

• School children

Nightmares, startle night (night terrors), sleep walking, severe sleepiness during the day with or without shortened night sleep

• Pubescent

Inadequate sleep duration and / or staying asleep, daytime sleepiness pronounced with or without shortened night sleep

1. Causes of sleep apnea syndrome in children

Behind a strong daytime sleepiness can hide a sleep apnea syndrome. Since even small children snore frequently, it may come as adults to the typical nocturnal breathing pauses. The respiration of the children involved here is often hindered by too large tonsils. Other reasons for a sleep apnea syndrome are obesity and anatomical constrictions in the throat.

2. Symptoms and causes of other sleep disorders in children

For insomnia, there are many physical and non-physical reasons. The sleep hours per day can vary greatly from child to child. Sleeps a child as long as it would correspond to his age, this can still be considered normal. Suspected of being a sleep disorder :

• Excessive daytime sleep propensity
• Lack of concentration
• Failure to thrive in infants and young children
• Frequent infections of the nose and throat (cold)
• The “postponement” of going to bed
• Frequent waking during the night

To narrow down the possible causes of sleep disorders in children, one should first determine the type of sleep disorder. Then you can search for specific physical, psychological or situational reasons for the sleep disorder.

Possible causes of insufficient sleep duration and / or staying asleep:

• Bedtime missing
• The sleep rhythm is not the child’s age adjusted
• Fever, cardiovascular diseases or other physical illnesses
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Excessive demands at school or family
• In small infants, very rarely present congenital disorders of respiratory control.

Possible causes of severe daytime sleepiness, with or without shortened night’s sleep:

• Lack of sleep at night
• Sleep apnea syndrome
• Nightmares, sleep walking
• Bed wetting
• Bronchial asthma, gastro-intestinal diseases
• Drugs, drugs
• Depression and other mental problems
• Neurological diseases such as epilepsy
• Chronic pain

4. Treatment of sleep disorders in children

To start a meaningful therapy must first be the cause of the sleep disorder known.Eliminates the cause, so the sleep problems usually disappear.

If, for example, enlarged tonsils to blame for a sleep apnea syndrome in children, surgical removal of the tonsils is appropriate. Especially with young children, the show because of their sleep problems developmental problems, immediate treatment of the causes is urgently needed. Developmental disabilities can not fully compensate later.

Found no direct cause for the sleep of the child, often reach a correction of sleep hygiene and the rituals at bedtime in order to achieve an improvement of sleep.

Tips for better sleep in children :

• Regular sleep and introduce Aufstehzeiten
• Sleep rituals such as singing songs or stories aloud to carry out regular
• Do not use bedtime as a punishment
• The bed should only be sleeping, that means no television, reading or getting in bed
• Schedule enough time between dinner and sleep
• Run short before sleep no more exciting activities (computer games, television, sports)
• Disturbing noise and light sources off
• No excessive temperatures in the nursery (about 18 degrees during sleeping)
• Maybe the child needs no more naps

It requires more and more often what doctors dental braces can solve the problems of snoring and sleep apnea. Treating sleep apnea and snoring with dental braces.

1. Brief History of dental braces

The first dental device against snoring and apnea was invented by Charles Samelson, a psychiatrist in Chicago in the late 1970s. Dr. Samelson sought to resolve its own problem of snoring. His wife, a pianist, complained that the noise generated by snoring was damaging to his “musical ear”. The noise caused her fatigue during the day. Dr. Samelson fashioned beeswax molds his tongue, by suction, pulling on the tongue, which kept her airway open during sleep. Beeswax was soon replaced by latex and research was undertaken at Rush University Medical School. The results were presented in 1982 to the same scientific meeting where Dr. Colin Sullivan introduced the CPAP or nCPAP (Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), in his article published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 1981. The technique of continuous positive airway pressure is the application using a compressor to a level of air pressure through a mask applied tightly over the nose.

2. The principle of the device

Since 1982, a multitude of devices have been introduced for the treatment of apnea. In fact, over 80 different models are currently on the market. If each model is different, the basic principle is the same traction on the tissues around the airways to release them and allow better airflow. If the device of Dr. Samelson drew on the language, most new models hang on and pull the mandible forward, building on the maxilla.

3. Indications, cons, indications and efficacy

According to the Canadian Thoracic Society, dental braces are indicated in the treatment of snoring in mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea and in case of failure of treatment of apnea with nCPAP. Since the publication of new standards of treatment in 2005, represents the dental brace, with nCPAP, a first-line treatment for patients with moderate sleep apnea, which is impressive progress considering the marginal use that we did 15 years ago, while the dental brace was almost exclusively seen as failures of continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

It is possible to make a brace for all types of mouth, the patient has all his teeth or is totally toothless. Ideally, the patient must breathe through the nose. A patient with a stuffy nose sometimes complain of having dry mouth during the night, rather uncomfortable situation. A consultation with an otolaryngologist is often necessary to optimize the airflow through the nose.

When patients have problems with pain in the jaw or temporomandibular joint, they are aware of the risks of worsening their situation by wearing a brace. However, there is often an improvement in their situation from the beginning of treatment. One of the reasons that explain this phenomenon is the relationship between some patients with sleep apnea and bruxism (teeth grinding) on a phenomenon by which use the muscles of mastication. Thus, we believe that improving the patient’s breathing, it decreases the harmful habit in some cases, reducing the stress brought on the masticatory apparatus.

If every model of dental brace is different, the basic principle is the same: traction on the tissues around the airways to clear them and thus allow better airflow.

It also notes that wearing a dental splint can lead to medium-term movement of the teeth caused by the pressure exerted by the brace on the dentition.
This movement is often marginal, except in patients who have previously undergone orthodontic treatment. It teaches exercises of the mandible to the morning to reduce the risk of moving teeth. Interestingly, it has been shown that even masks nCPAP may move the teeth based on the upper dental arch.

He jerks, he snorts, and he is struggling for breath! It probably has sleep apnea.  So what is the difference between snoring and obstructive sleep apnea ?

It is also scary. If you? ’ve Ever slept with someone next to the sleep apnea and literally watched that person stop breathing? It’s scary!

1. Snoring

Snoring very real is created in the soft palette and the uvula vibrate. The uvula is the fleshy piece of skin that hangs down at the bottom of your throat. From physics we know that all the air will move quickly to try to elevate and vibrate the objects in its path, hence the large airflow through the nose or mouth causes of this strong, intense vibration . It is the irregular movement of air when it is not always, which causes vibration of the soft palette sporadic. The National Sleep Foundation research suggests that nearly 44% of men and 28% of women snore and this affects their snoring bed partner. When someone snores loudly and constantly every night, it is considered chronic snoring. In other cases, snoring occurs only on an occasional basis and may be due to excessive fatigue, overeating, sleeping on one? S back, excessive consumption of alcohol etc.

2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea, the other hand, is where the victim? S actually stops breathing for a short period of time? Anywhere from 10 seconds to one minute. The primary culprits that trigger the onset of sleep apnea are weight gain, aging, and lose muscle tone, but it may also occur in young people without the typical triggers. In one house, sleep apnea is often misdiagnosed, as very often it is accompanied by snoring hard, even if the snoring does not need to happen for the person to have apnea events. When the throat muscles relax during sleep, collapsing trachea. This then prevents the oxygen flow. As the oxygen in the blood decreases, the brain kicked in and finally say? Hey! It’s time to give me oxygen?, So you wake up just enough room for you to strengthen muscles and upper airway open your trachea. This results in a huge air intake and causes sniffling and gasping, literally breathtaking. This pattern can repeat hundreds of times in the night and the victim is never the wiser.This is why it is so important to monitor your behavior during the day and how you feel.My husband suffers from sleep apnea events very soft and it can always tell when he d? In a? Bad? Night as her throat tends to be painful the next day and he is very tired and sounded alarm. If left unchecked or untreated, it can cause intense irritability and depression and headaches in the morning, loss of libido and decline in cognitive functioning. There may also be an increased risk of hypertension, irregular heartbeats, and high risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Millions of people have their sleep interrupted with this alarming state of health? Not diagnosed and millions. This extremely common sleep disorder is the one who really needs medical attention. It is diagnosed by spending a night or two in a sleep laboratory Polysomnography connected to equipment that monitors your heart rate, respiration and activity idea.

Once sleep apnea is diagnosed, the solution is to sleep with a CPAP mask (continuous positive pressure airway) over your nose and mouth. It provides regulated flow of air through the nasal passages, thereby preventing the closure of your windpipe.For milder cases of sleep apnea, learn to sleep on? Often side will correct the situation. Extreme solutions involve surgery to correct structural defects. All options should be discussed with your doctor.

Are you sleepy all the time? Do you snore? Does your doctor difficulty determining your treatment of hypertension? If you answered yes? At one of these questions, then you may have sleep apnea (also called obstructive sleep apnea or OSA).

Sleep apnea is a condition involving pauses or decreases in breathing during sleep. It is usually due to respiratory collapse. This collapse occurs in the nose and / or throat?From any location where the air enters the nostrils to the back of the tongue. Imagine a straw collapsing while trying to suck a thick milkshake. Often, this airway collapsibility problem is inherited and starts in childhood. During the day, this is not a problem because it is good muscle tone in the airway and the brain monitors breathing. But at night, his throat muscles are relaxed and the brain is not as attentive to the airway. So on inhalation, the airway walls can either completely collapse or significantly narrow.This is a problem because 1) the body must struggle to breathe and 2), the brain must have? Waking? Reopen the airway.

These frequent awakenings lead to fragmentation of nighttime sleep. You can not remember them because they are so short. In fact, patients with sleep apnea may wake up more than 30 times an hour and think they slept through the night without interruption. Since sleep must be continuous and consolidated in order to be restorative, a number of cognitive problems that may occur when sleep fragmentation: daytime sleepiness, memory problems, concentration difficulties, emotional instability, irritability, slowed the time reaction, and especially, an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents.

There are also cardiovascular consequences of this constant? Difficulty breathing.?This puts a strain on the heart and blood vessels, leading to an increased risk of hypertension, heart disease and stroke.

Finally, there are the social implications of sleep apnea. Snoring associated with sleep apnea may disturb the sleep of others. In fact, one study showed that when a person treats his sleep apnea, sleep becomes a partner in the equivalent of one hour more sleep per night.

Sleep apnea is a progressive disease and often worsens with Age. Weight gain, alcohol and other sedatives or relaxing substances exacerbate it.

Who Gets Sleep Apnea?

A common misconception is that only overweight people who snore loudly have sleep apnea, but the facts are as follows:

1) Sleep apnea can occur without snoring
2) Thin people can have sleep apnea
3) women may have sleep apnea
4) Children may have sleep apnea

In other words, anyone can have. Even skinny women. Even children.

I Think I Might Have Sleep Apnea, How Do I Find Out If I Have It?

Make an appointment with your primary care physician, or if your insurance allows, go directly to a sleep specialist. If your doctor thinks you may have sleep apnea, then he / she can refer you to a sleep study or comprehensive sleep evaluation.

How is Sleep Apnea Treated?

There are four major categories of treatment of sleep apnea: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Surgery, Oral Appliances, and Behavioral Modification.

The most effective way to treat sleep apnea with CPAP. CPAP is a mask worn over the nose attached by a hose to an air compressor. The air compressor gently and quietly blows room air into the nose, which one? Stents? Open the airway, preventing airway collapse. This is the most effective way to treat sleep apnea, and all patients diagnosed with sleep apnea should at least try it before considering other options.

Surgery may be an effective way to treat sleep apnea. A number of different procedures can be performed. These range from nasal septum repair to jaw reconstruction. Consult your doctor about whether surgery is the right solution for you.

An oral appliance is a device made by a dentist or an orthodontist designed to pull your lower jaw forward. By pulling your lower jaw forward, the tongue is torn from the back of the throat. If your airway obstruction is happening behind the language, then this may be an effective way to treat your sleep apnea. The treatment of sleep apnea with oral appliance should be a coordinated effort between the sleep physician, dentist or orthodontist, and patient.

Behavioural changes can help in the treatment of sleep apnea, but they are usually less effective. These include techniques such as weight loss, sleep on your side, and not consume alcohol before bedtime.

None of these treatment options is ideal, but all can be useful for the treatment of sleep apnea and resulting in more restful sleep. With risks like heart attack and stroke, you must do everything possible to get your sleep apnea under control. If you think you have sleep apnea, contact your doctor or visit a sleep center. It could be the best decision you ever made.

Sleep apnea dental devices also called oral appliances or devices,  may be an option for patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea who are not appropriate candidates for CPAP.

1. What are sleep apnea dental devices?

Sleep apnea dental devices are very much like the ones used often as dental guards. These devices are mainly acrylic and need to be fitted by a dentist or orthodontist. The main purpose of the sleep apnea dental devices is to keep your air passageway open to allow oxygen into your lungs while you sleep.

2. What are the various types of sleep apnea dental devices?

There are two major types of dental devices that can be used when one is suffering from sleep apnea.

• Tongue retraining device (TRD)

This is a splint that holds the tongue in place to keep the airway as open as possible.

• Mandibular advancement device (MAD).

the MAD forces the lower jaw forward and down slightly, which keeps the airway open, just similar to a sports mouth guard. Which is the most widely used dental device for sleep apnea.

3. Benefits of  sleep apnea Dental Devices

Sleep apnea patients after using the sleep apnea dental devices, they can improve their sleep, improve and reduce the frequency of snoring and loudness of snoring, significant reduce the apneas during sleep, particularly if patients sleep either on their backs or stomachs. They do not work as well if patients lie on their side. The sleep apnea dental devices may also improve airflow for some patients with severe apnea.

4. Disadvantages of  sleep apnea Dental Devices

While these sleep apnea dental devices are known to work well with most patients, they can lead to some discomfort too. They may cause nighttime pain, dry lips, tooth discomfort, and excessive salivation. Even worst they may permanent change the position of the teeth or jaw if use the sleep apnea dental devices in long-term. However, over time these issues tend to subside tremendously. Permanent jaw displacement is a concern with usage of these devices, but if one gets them fitted by a good orthodontist, the problem is less likely to occur.

Detail information on sleep apnea definition, sleep apnea causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

1. Sleep apnea Description

Sleep apnea is a condition in which people literally stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep and in some cases the phenomenon is repeated hundreds of times per night. This is one of the most common disorders in adults: up to 5% of women and 15% of men aged 30-60 years suffer from sleep apnea.

Most of these people snore while they sleep, but these two disorders are very different. While snoring can be annoying, sleep apnea can be life threatening. During an attack of apnea, the oxygen concentration in the body decreases markedly, and the carbon dioxide increases, the heart must work harder to compensate for this imbalance. Each time, the brain sends a signal to wake the person can breathe. These people never get enough sleep.

2. Sleep apnea causes

Sleep apnea occurs in three forms:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form, occurs when the air has trouble reaching the lungs because the airways are obstructed. OSA is more common in men and obese people, especially those who sleep on their backs. In people of normal weight who have the condition, it’s often an abnormality of the lower face, especially a small chin, an overbite (overlap) or a large tongue. Characteristically, the OSA occurs in three phases:

• Initially, the airway is partially blocked as the soft tissue at the back of the throat relaxes and starts to close up on itself, producing a very loud snoring.
• Then, the airway is completely blocked and breathing stops for at least 10 seconds, sometimes up to two minutes.
• Finally, the person wakes up briefly (although they rarely are aware) and tried to breathe, snorting or gasping. After regaining his breath, she falls back asleep and the cycle begins again.

Central apnea, a rare form of sleep apnea, occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the chest to breathe properly during sleep. These people wake up repeatedly during the night to catch their breath.

The Mixed sleep apnea, as its name suggests, the first two types of apnea. It begins as a central apnea then turns obstructive sleep apnea.

3. Sleep apnea Symptoms and Complications

Unfortunately, most people who make sleep apnea are unaware of their condition. It is believed that more than 10 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea are undiagnosed. The American Sleep Apnea Foundation has developed a simple questionnaire to help a person to determine if she suffers from sleep apnea. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, consult your doctor:

• Do you snore often very strong?
• Do you feel tired and groggy on awakening?
• You often feel sleepy during the day?
• Do you suffer from obesity?
• Have you ever been told that you choke, you breathe hard or you hold your breath when you sleep? Ask your partner.

Daytime sleepiness is probably the most obvious symptom for patients, because they are struggling to stay awake, concentrate and work. Sometimes people lose their jobs because they feel sleepy at work. It is even more serious if drowsiness occurs when a person driving or operating machinery. Studies have shown that the accident rate is higher than average among people who suffer from sleep apnea. It would be better if they avoid driving if they feel drowsy or stop driving completely until the apnea is not controlled.

Sleep apnea can also cause headaches, memory problems and depression. In severe cases, it happens that some health problems arise or be aggravated by sleep apnea, including: hypertension, heart attack, stroke, impaired cardiac function, eg heart failure and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).

4. Sleep apnea Diagnosis

The doctor will ask specific questions to clarify whether the symptoms of sleep apnea, and it will conduct a review to determine the cause of airway obstruction. In addition to measuring blood pressure, he can order blood tests and heart function tests to see if sleep apnea has resulted in complications, or to rule out other possible diagnoses.

To confirm a case of sleep apnea, it is sometimes necessary to undergo a test called polysomnography. The patient spends a night in a sleep laboratory study, where various devices record observations and data during sleep.

5. Sleep apnea Treatment and Prevention

There are no drugs to treat sleep apnea, but several treatments are effective when administered alone or in combination:

Changes related to lifestyle – to eliminate factors that cause or aggravate the sleep apnea. If apnea is due to obesity, weight loss can often solve the problem. In addition, sleeping on its side, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol and sedatives (these substances aggravate snoring and affect control of breathing) are useful measures to alleviate sleep apnea.

Applying a constant positive air pressure – a well-fitting face mask connected to an air pump to administer a constant airflow in the airway to prevent their collapse and clog . Until now, the treatment that has proved most effective, whatever the cause of sleep apnea. Patients often find a significant difference after one or two nights.

Dental Orthotics – these orthotics are worn at night to prevent the throat tissue to close, or the language to sink, and the airways remain open during the night as well. This strategy is suitable for treatment of OSA.

Surgery – as a last resort, the surgeon can remove excess soft tissue in the airway. This intervention is useful for correcting snoring important. In the case of sleep apnea, it is only effective in 50% of cases, approximately.