When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your throat collapses during sleep, blocking the airway and preventing air from getting to the lungs. Generally, your throat muscles keep the throat and airway open.
Causes and risk factors of sleep apnea:
Large tonsils or adenoids or other anatomical differences. (A deviated septum, enlarged tongue, or receding chin can also create difficulties breathing during sleep)
Being overweight or obese (although almost 50% of people with sleep apnea are not obese)
Throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal during sleep. (This can be due to alcohol or sedative use before bedtime, but not necessarily)
Shape of head and neck may create a smaller than normal airway.
Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.
Family history of sleep apnea – No specific genetic marker for sleep apnea has been discovered, but obstructive sleep apnea seems to run in families. This may be a result of anatomic abnormalities that run in the family
Nasal congestion, nasal blockages, and nasal irritants.
Snoring – Snoring can cause the soft palate to lengthen, which in turn can obstruct the airway.
Other physical conditions, such as immune system abnormalities, severe heartburn or acid reflux and high blood pressure. It isn’t clear whether the conditions are the cause or the result of sleep apnea.
Other disorders and syndromes – Hypothyroidism, acromegaly, amyloidosis, vocal cord paralysis, post-polio syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, Marfan’s syndrome, and Down Syndrome
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is when the windpipe is blocked during sleep. People who have sleep apena can stop breathing 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping. This can happen up to 400 times every night. This can be serious and in some cases life-threatening.
Everyone with
One way to treat people who have sleep apnea is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure CPAP machine. All sleep apnea machines (CPAP machines) include a sleep apnea mask, tube and a fan. It uses air pressure (usually through your nose) to push your tongue forward and open your throat. This
The best way to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea is with a CPAP Machine. Even though surgery is available in some cases, the recovery after surgery is long, painful and does not have a 100% success rate. The surgery may only be partially successful and you will still have to use
Most dental devices are acrylic and fit inside your mouth, much like an athletic mouth guard or orthodontic appliance. Some others fit around your head and chin to adjust the position of your lower jaw. Two common oral devices are the Mandibular Repositioning Device and the Tongue Retaining
Many people have problems with their CPAP machine, especially at first. Don't give up. Often, the problems go away when you get used to wearing your mask.
Most Important - Comfort
Because pressurized air requires a closed seal for it to be effective, CPAP machine users are required to wear specialized masks
Choosing the right CPAP Machine and mask is vital to proper treatment of your sleep apnea. If you're not using your CPAP machine and mask, you're not treating your sleep apnea and your sleep apnea will get worse without treatment.
Some health insurance programs will cover the cost of the sleep