Sleep Apnea
If you snore heavily, wake up several times a night or feel exhausted during the day, you may have a
potentially serious condition known as sleep apnea. This condition, in which the normal breathing
process is frequently interrupted or obstructed while sleeping, can contribute to many health
complications including hypertension, stroke, heart failure, diabetes, depression, decreased sex drive,
memory lapses, and being tired. These conditions can significantly damage your health and possibly
even cause life-shortening ailments. While treatments range from weight loss, CPAP machines, and
to surgery, many patients just need a little help keeping their airway open during sleep. Dental Smiles
of Willow Glen offers AveoTSD and the TAP 3 Elite removable anti-snoring devices as possible
alternative and inexpensive solutions.
There are actually two primary types of sleep apnea, central (CSA) and obstructive (OSA). The
central variety occurs when the brain simply stops sending signals to the body to breathe normally,
while the obstructive variety involves a physical stoppage of air flow through the mouth and throat into
the lungs. OSA is much more common than CSA. When the back of the throat closes off, the brain
senses a drop in oxygen and awakes the body enough for breathing to resume. People with
obstructive sleep apnea may experience these interruptions hundreds of times in a single night, even
if they do not wake up sufficiently to realize it.