Sleep disorders affect millions of people. They can cause a variety of problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes and vehicle accidents due to drowsy driving.
Luckily, treatment is available. The first step is often a simple lifestyle change. But for more severe cases, a pulmonologist may prescribe an oral device.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliances are a highly effective treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea. These molded devices fit inside the mouth and advance the lower jaw and tongue to prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep. This reduces daytime sleepiness and snoring, while also improving blood pressure.
These devices can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, including weight loss, exercise, avoiding alcohol and sleeping on an elevated or side position. In many cases, sleep apnea symptoms are resolved completely. Untreated sleep apnea therapy Russellville KY can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, memory loss, depression and impaired liver function.
The most common type of oral appliance is a mandibular advancement device (MAD). Other types include tongue-retaining and rapid maxillary expansion. Our dental team can help you choose the right device for your unique needs. We can also arrange for objective sleep testing to help calibrate and monitor your progress with this form of treatment. Call us today to learn more about our services or schedule a visit.
At-Home Sleep Tests
If you are waking up feeling groggy, even after getting a full night’s sleep, our practice can help uncover the problem. Loud snoring, daytime sleepiness and other symptoms indicate that you might be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes poor health and increases your risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
During a sleep study, we will use a monitor that records information about your breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels, chest and abdomen movement, and snoring. We also can test for other sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome and REM sleep behavior disorder (sleep walking, night terrors, bruxism and bed wetting).
If you choose to have an at-home sleep study instead of one done in the lab, we will send you a device that records your breathing, heart rate and oxygen saturation while you are asleep. A sleep specialist will analyze the results and recommend an appropriate course of treatment.
Sleep Apnea Surgery
Sleep apnea is a condition that interrupts breathing during sleep, preventing the brain and body from getting enough oxygen. This cycle is repeated night after night, leading to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart failure and stroke. People with untreated sleep apnea also experience difficulty performing well at work or school and may be prone to accidents.
Obstructive sleep apnea is most common in men and women who are overweight, have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, smoke, take sedatives or alcohol, or have a family history of sleep apnea. It can occur in children as well.
Owensboro Health is the only healthcare system in the region to offer a non-invasive, minimally invasive surgical treatment option for sleep apnea. This procedure involves implanting a device in the mouth to keep the airway open during sleep. This is available for eligible patients with obstructive sleep apnea and less severe obstructions called upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). It’s performed as an outpatient procedure.
Pediatric Sleep Apnea Treatment
For children suffering from sleep apnea, the first step of treatment is often a polysomnogram, or a sleep study. This overnight test uses sensors to monitor brain activity, breathing patterns, heart rate, oxygen levels and snoring. It also determines whether your child reaches the necessary sleeping stages and can tell if they have an obstruction in their upper airway.
The most common cause of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea therapy Russellville KY is large tonsils and adenoids, which can block their upper airway. Over 30 years ago, 90 percent of tonsillectomies were performed because of recurring infections; today, 20 percent are done for this reason and 80 percent for obstructive sleep apnea.
A long period of untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious problems with the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. UofL Health recently introduced a new treatment that may help those suffering from this sleep disorder. Watch the video below to learn more about Inspire and how it works.