Are you snoring every now and then, or is something more serious happening after you go to bed each night? Dr. Donald M. Marks DMD, sleep apnea doctor in State College, partners with primary care physicians and sleep specialists to evaluate patients for sleep apnea. A member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Dr. Marks teaches patients the signs and symptoms of this sleep disorder and delivers relief from this serious health condition.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when very loud snoring and cessation of breathing disrupts sleep. Often caused by the soft tissues at the back of the throat collapsing and covering the airway, sleep apnea is linked to health problems such as anxiety, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, memory and concentration problems, weight gain and depression.
There are three kinds of sleep apnea, according to the National Sleep Foundation:
- OSA, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea, where the soft palate relaxes, collapses and covers the windpipe
- CSA, or Central Sleep Apnea, when the brain does not tell the respiratory system to breath (this is the most worrisome variety of sleep apnea)
- Complex Sleep Apnea, where OSA and CSA are combined
Sleep apnea affects people of all ages and walks of life but is perhaps most common in men over the age of 50 who are overweight. Large neck circumference, family history, excessive use of alcohol and smoking contribute to sleep apnea. Plus, being over age 60 increases the incidence of sleep apnea for everyone.
Treatment
While really loud snoring, disruptive to the individual and the spouse, usually sends people to their health care provider for treatment, other frequently-occurring symptoms include:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Startling awake
- Morning headaches
- Attention-deficit issues
A sleep physician diagnoses the disorder. Sleep tests are conducted at home or in a fully-monitored sleep clinic where the patient is observed as he or she sleeps.
Dr. Donald M. Marks and his team treat patients for OSA with acrylic mouthguards customized according to oral impressions. These appliances, also called “snore guards,” put the lower jaw in a more forward position, opening the airway so snoring ceases and breathing normalizes.
More serious forms of sleep apnea require machines known as CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Used at night, CPAP machines force the airway open by blowing air into the throat through a special facial mask. People intolerant of CPAP machines benefit from an oral appliance alone or from therapy which combines a snore guard and CPAP for a reduced amount of time nightly.
Lifestyle Habits
Changing daily habits helps some individuals. Losing weight, exercise and smoking cessation reduce symptoms. Sleeping on one side, rather than on the back, lessens airway blockage. Some people raise their heads on pillows. Saline sprays and drugstore nasal strips relieve congestion.
Does Your Snoring Cause Concern?
Don’t ignore it. Contact Donald M. Marks DMD if your night time noise is disruptive and if you exhibit some of the signs and symptoms outlined above. The sleep apnea dentist in State College can advise treatment choices to get you breathing, sleeping and functioning well when you are awake.