Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Does it seem like you go to bed early, get your eight hours of sleep and still feel tired? Perhaps you are not getting the sleep you think you are. Many of us suffer from obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.

Sleep apnea literally means sleep without breathing. Try holding your breath 10 to 60 seconds thirty or more times an hour. Without our awareness this can happen when we are asleep. Over time this can lead to hypertension, heart disease, weight gain, depression, diabetes, impotence, GERD, liver disease, memory dysfunction, strokes, and death. As a concerned health provider I decided to see if I had sleep apnea and, if so, what remedies existed to treat this silent killer.

I recently tested an “at-home device” for diagnostic screening of sleep apnea. This device slips onto your finger tip and measures pulse and oxygen levels while you sleep. It was discovered that during my sleep cycles my blood oxygen levels were dropping below acceptable levels and my heart rate climbed to the high eighties. I suspected I had a problem when I would awake several times a night without any reason. My dentist recommended a sleep study test at a sleep laboratory and I complied. The sleep lab is very similar to a nice hotel room except the technician affixes monitoring cables to your legs and head to measure such things as random limb movements and REM sleep cycles.

The results showed a mild sleep apnea condition existed so I returned to run another test that included the assistance of a breathing device called a CPAP machine that would exert positive air pressure when I inhaled. This made breathing a lot easier although the CPAP would occasionally dislodge if I rolled over on my side. Regardless, I saw positive results with REM sleep patterns and higher oxygen blood saturation levels. The only problem was finding a more comfortable alternative to the CPAP mask.

Not to be deterred an oral device was ordered for me to help keep my jaw from falling back into a slack position and blocking my airway. Although I have prescribed these devices for many years I have not had a reason to wear one. I have not yet had a third sleep study done to monitor the success of the device, however I have been told that I don’t snore much anymore. These dental devices can be effective in keeping the jaw in a more forward position to allow good breathing and good sleep. They are small and portable and do not make any noise that would keep others awake in your room. The fees range from $500 (for light to moderate snoring) to $2500 (for mild to moderate OSA).

As with any device made for OSA it is highly recommended that a follow up sleep study test be performed to gauge the effectiveness and make any adjustments that are required.