Sleep Apnea

Does someone in your family snore? Children and adults alike suffer from this condition. Snoring can affect the lives and relationships of those that live with people who snore. Snoring can also be a sign of a much more serious problem. Often people who snore also suffer from a sleep disordered breathing condition known as sleep apnea. This is when breathing is stopped for periods of 10 seconds or more during sleep. Sleep apnea can range from mild to moderate to severe depending upon how many of these apnea episodes one has during the sleeping period. Sleep apnea causes a variety of other body system responses such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure among others. People already suffering from conditions associated with heart rate and pressure become more at risk to heart attacks and strokes. People with sleep apnea often have GERD (Gastrointestinal reflux), restricted airways and there are associations with TMD (Temporomandibular Jaw Joint Dysfunction).

Sleep affects how we function from day to day and affects how are bodies are able to heal themselves. Without proper sleep, disease is sure to follow.

Sleep disordered breathing conditions require an overnight sleep study at a qualified sleep laboratory but there are a few questions that you can ask yourself (or your loved one) to help begin the process.

These questions can indicate whether or not a sleep study (PSG) should be considered.

Epworth Sleep Evaluation
You should be evaluated by a trained professional if you meet one of the following OR your results to the Epworth test below are 6 or greater.

1. You do not wake feeling refreshed and rested.
2. You often experience morning headaches.
3. You or your sleep partner identify that you choke, gasp or stop breathing during sleep.

Epworth Scoring: 0 = no chance of dozing 1 = slight chance of dozing 2 = moderate chance of dozing 3 = high chance of dozing

Epworth Test Situation / Chance of Dozing (score 0-3)

1. Sitting and reading =
2. Watching TV =
3. Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g. theater or a meeting) =
4. As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break =
5. Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit =
6. Sitting and talking to someone =
7. Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol =
8. In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic =

In cases of mild to moderate sleep apnea the recognized course of treatment is an oral dental sleep appliance. In moderate to severe cases a CPAP unit is recommended. Combinations of the 2 help patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea to tolerate better the CPAP unit.

Call us for more information regarding sleep disordered breathing conditions.

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