Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Both simple snoring and sleep apnea can cause serious disruption of sleep quality. The result can be either excessive daytime sleepiness or insomnia or uncomfortable mixtures of both. Sleep specialists take care to provide thorough treatment of snoring and sleep apnea since sleep apnea in particular may result in increased risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, depression, and motor vehicle accidents.

Both sleep apnea and snoring can result in daily impairments in functioning such as constant fatigue, reduced performance at work or in school, and greatly reduced energy and lack of enjoyment in life.

Snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea. Snoring is the sound of air turbulence in the airway in the neck that has become narrower during sleep than it is during wakefulness. Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which the airway significantly narrows or collapses at least five times an hour during sleep. This abnormality may result in instability of sleep and dramatically reduced sleep continuity, as well as create a strain on the heart and blood vessels.

Treatment

Several treatment options exist and most people with snoring or sleep apnea can find a successful and comfortable method of treatment.
Many people are treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which involves sleeping with a simple, safe apparatus designed to ensure that enough air can pass through the airway and that airway collapses are prevented. This often results in tremendously improved sleep and daytime well being. Advances in CPAP equipment design have made this treatment increasingly comfortable for many.
Some people, usually those with milder sleep apnea or simple snoring, can be well treated with a special oral appliance. These are made by dentists with special training and can become very easy to use.
Some people with snoring or sleep apnea may have surgical options. Some types of surgery have fallen out of favor in recent years due to low long term success rates. An ear, nose, and throat specialist well trained in snoring and sleep apnea can be very helpful in recommending who may be a realistic candidate for selected surgeries.
Some people with very mild problems that occur mainly when they sleep on their back may be helped with “positional sleep training.”