What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Your sleep impacts every aspect of your health and daily life. Sleeping well helps you look, feel and perform your best. But a sleep problem can be harmful to your health and well-being. One of the most common sleep problems is obstructive sleep apnea. Learn more about the warning signs and how you can get help
ABOUT OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA:
Nearly 54 million adults in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can cause them to stop breathing hundreds of times a night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute.
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. As a result, repeated breathing pauses occur, which often reduce your oxygen levels. These breathing pauses are followed by brief awakenings that disturb your sleep.
Common signs of sleep apnea include snoring and gasping or choking sounds during sleep. Like snoring, sleep apnea is more common in men, but it can occur in women too, especially during and after menopause. Having excess body weight, a narrow airway or misaligned jaw all increase the risk of sleep apnea.
IS TREATING OSA IMPORTANT?
Untreated sleep apnea raises your risk for serious health problems. These include:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic acid reflux
- Erectile dysfunction
To learn more about obstructive sleep apnea, click the link below for frequently asked questions provided by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
Oral Appliance Therapy:
Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A custom-fit oral sleep appliance can improve your sleep, restore your alertness and revitalize your health. As a proud member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Bahu offers this alternative treatment to patients who are C-PAP intolerant.
Advantages of Oral Appliance Therapy:
Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle. Patients like oral appliance therapy because it is:
- Comfortable
- Easy to wear
- Quiet
- Portable
- Convenient for travel
- Easy to care for
HOW CAN DR. BAHU HELP?
Dentists work closely with physicians to treat snoring and sleep apnea. At your first visit, Dr. Bahu will talk to you about the benefits of treatment. You also will receive information on the potential side effects and the cost of therapy. We also offer home sleep tests for those who prefer that option. We participate with most medical insurance plans. Call us for more information!