Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

It is a breathing disorder that usually happens when sleeping. The disorder repeatedly causes stopping and starting to breathe while sleeping. While there are several types, OSA(obstructive sleep apnea) is the most common one, and it happens due to the throat muscles relaxing. There are several obstructive sleep apnea treatment options as well that may help you manage the situation.

The air typically flows through the nose, and when a person goes through OSA, the pressure while breathing increases as air is squeezed through narrow and blocked airways. In most cases, the result is snoring, which is also related to severe dental issues. As the throat muscles and soft tissues relax, they block the airway, and the person is unconscious during sleep, so they may start snoring.

"Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax while you are asleep."

Lyn Ashby

What are the causes of obstructive sleep apnea?

Air passes from your nose to the back of your mouth and into the lungs as you breathe. There are muscles in the throat, and the ones at the back support the soft plate of your mouth, the uvula(triangular structure hanging at the back), tongue, and tonsils. As the muscles at the back of the throat are relaxed, this airway to the lungs is narrowed. This airway closes as you breathe in.

As it happens, the breathing can be hampered for a few seconds, which results in lower oxygen levels in the blood. Lower oxygen level also results in an abundance of carbon dioxide. The brain detects this situation with the lack of oxygen and briefly rouses the person from sleep. It results in reopening the airway resulting in comfortable breathing again.

Having misaligned teeth, grinding or clenching issues, or requiring other orthodontic treatments can be why you have OSA.

In most cases, the duration you stay awake is so brief and unconscious that you hardly remember it. However, this situation can result in gasping sounds, choking, or, most commonly, shorting. This pattern of narrowing of the airway and then you waking up to reopen them can repeat all night long with a frequency of 30 times or even more for 1 hour.

As a result, you may face the following issues:

• Lack of deep sleep
• Sleepy during the day
• Restless sleep phases

Many people who face this issue are usually unaware that they are not getting good quality sleep because of this issue. Some health conditions that may cause this issue are:

• Chronic lung disease
• Heart failure
• Kidney failure
• Pregnancy
• Obesity, etc

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea?

Before getting obstructive sleep apnea treatment options, you must know its symptoms. So, here is a list of the most common symptoms of this problem:

• Loud snoring(you may not notice it, but people nearby will)
• Excessive sleepiness during the day
• Waking up with a sore throat
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Bad breath
• Mouth ulcers
• Gum diseases
• Mouth breathing
• Bruxism
• Depression irritability or mood changes
• High blood pressure
• Morning headache
• Decrease libido
• Noting that you stopped breathing during sleep
• Waking up because of choking or gasping

You must see the doctor for feeling one or more of these issues. However, any of these symptoms does not ensure that you have OSA as there could be other reasons.

What is obstructive sleep apnea treatment?

Treating OSA means that you do not obstruct sleep due to breathing issues. Here are some treatments that you may get:

• Losing weight

OSA is common in people with obesity, so weight management can help with it. Losing weight can also help in reduced blood pressure and better mood.

• Rectifying dental problems

Dental problems are interrelated with OSA, so consulting your dentist may help you with this situation. The solutions for OSA can lead to better dental health and managing your dental health through treating issues like tooth alignment, mouthpiece installation, clenching, and grinding.

• CPAP therapy

It is the most common treatment her you wear a face mask at night, so positive airflow from the mask prevents you from OSA.

• Change in sleeping style

For some people, sleeping on their side can solve the issue.

• BPAP machines

These machines are used if none of the above methods is beneficial. The machinery can deliver 2 pressures for your breathing so the airway does not narrow.

• Surgery

The final solution is surgery, but it is only recommended for severe OSA cases. During surgery, doctors insert a thin instrument to keep the muscles from narrowing down when relaxed.

Conclusion

If you are facing the symptoms of OSA, consulting your doctor is the best choice. Many obstructive sleep apnea treatment options can help you manage the situation. The doctor can also recommend some lifestyle changes to help, including dental solutions. However, if none of those work, you still have the option to go with surgery.

Contact your dentist in Union City, Dr. Zafar Sayeedi, at Noble Dental Care to learn more about Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition*