Did you know that 2 out of 10 Australian adults will snore at some time during their life?
Usually snoring is a sign of sleep-disordered breathing in any age group ( children and adults) plus it annoys your partner and also affects their sleep quality. In addition for many people, snoring may point to a more serious condition called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
OSA is one of the most common sleep-related breathing disorders in adults, occurring in both men and women. It is harmful to health and may ultimately lead to life-threatening conditions such as stroke, heart disease and higher blood pressure.
People who have OSA almost always snore very loudly and often have other signs and symptoms. These may include tiredness on waking, morning headache, memory deterioration, choking or gasping during sleep, dry throat on waking, poor concentration, lack of motivation, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
In addition, people with sleep apnoea will repeatedly stop breathing during their sleep. OSA occurs when the soft tissues at the back of your throat collapse, leading to a blockage of the airway. Breathing may stop for anywhere between 10 seconds to 2 minutes causing you to wake, gasping for breath, and then fall asleep again. This condition occurs in men and women snorers, and it is often your partner who is the first to notice when the snoring stops, your breathing has also stopped.
This fragmented sleep pattern will obviously result in you waking up tired.
Correct diagnosis of the cause of sleep apnea is essential. This assessment may involve a team of medical and dental specialists. Furthermore, you may need to have a sleep study where your sleep patterns will be monitored overnight. This can often be done at home.
Treatment will depend on the severity of your sleep apnoea but may involve wearing a customized oral dental appliance during sleep, which works by bringing the jaw forward lifting up the soft palate or holding the tongue forward. Several of our team wear these successfully and we’re happy to talk about our personal experience with you. Other people may need to use a nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure ) machine at night. This involves wearing a mask over the nose at night that delivers air under pressure.
Healthy lifestyle changes are also helpful such as losing excess weight, quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol at night.
If you are constantly waking up tired or suspect you are snoring, help is readily available.
Smile by Design
54432888
www.smilebydesign.net.au
