What Is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs during sleep when the throat muscles relax, causing the tongue and soft tissues to fall back closing off airflow which hinders the natural breathing cycle.

An Apnea event happens when you stop breathing for 10 seconds or more.  It's a complete or nearly complete closure of the airway.

Sleep Apnea affects your health in many negative ways. If left untreated it can eventually cause Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, Stroke, or even sudden death, as well as many other health-related symptoms. Currently, if you suffer from OSA, many symptoms are easily recognizable. The most common include loud, chronic snoring; excessive daytime sleepiness and high blood pressure. Other symptoms include being jolted awake or waking up out of breath; restless sleep cycles; difficulty falling or staying asleep; early morning headaches; sexual disfunction and decreased-sex drive; memory problems; irritability and social problems; dental symptoms; and acid reflux or GERD. If a patient is clinically overweight, it increases the likelihood of having OSA.

Unless a patient is suffering from sinus or nasal congestion, snoring is a symptom of an obstructed (closed) airway. The soft palate and collapsed tissues in the back of the throat vibrate as air passes through.

At-home treatments for snoring can include regular exercise, losing weight, avoiding sleeping pills, alcohol, and sedatives before going to bed. If these aren’t helping, you can schedule a free consultation with us and learn about a possible sleep apnea diagnosis and further treatment plans.

The most common treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is CPAP therapy (CPAP mask and machine) or Oral Appliance Therapy (being fitted for an oral device). Surgical options are also available depending on the symptoms of the patient. Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery, MMA surgery, or Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) are options, (these treatments are recommended only if the throat or mouth has severe physical obstructions). Sleep apnea can also be treated by diet and lifestyle modification, through sleep hygiene regimens, getting moderate exercise, or limiting caffeine, alcohol and food consumption late in the day. Breathe Right® strips and similar products can also ease sleep apnea.

Oral Appliance Therapy is a simple and effective treatment solution for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A custom-made appliance is worn in the mouth. The device prevents the lower jaw from falling backwards, which keeps the tongue and soft tissues from blocking the airway during sleep. We offer a variety of appliances, including: SomnoDent® Avant, ProSomnus IA® and EVO, and a Herbst.

CPAP, is also known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Using a mask, air from a CPAP machine presses air gently through the nose and mouth to keep the airway open. The consistent pressure allows the sleeping patient to take deep, uninterrupted breaths without the tissue in the back of the throat collapsing. However, some patients react negatively to CPAP, since in some cases the machine can cause extreme discomfort. Kansas Sleep Solutions offers treatment alternatives for those who are CPAP intolerant.