Dental appliances for sleep apnea sufferers are recommended by most medical professionals who treat this disorder as the first step in treatment. They have proved their effectiveness in more than ten years of use. Designed to alleviate snoring, oral devices work on the most common type of apnea, which is termed 'obstructive'. Drugs, sleeping position, and lifestyle changes may also be helpful.
People afflicted with this disorder rarely get adequate rest, because they stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping. The interruptions last from ten seconds to several minutes, and this may happen many times an hour. Understandably, sufferers are fatigued, sleepy during the day, and may become increasingly irritable and even aggressive. They have difficulty performing routine tasks and may become clinically depressed.
There are different types of apnea. A small fraction of cases are caused by brain stem problems. The majority are what is called 'obstructive', involving a physical blockage of the airways. This is the disorder that responds to the use of an oral mouthpiece, which is recommended by sleeping disorder specialists as the first thing to try in treatment.
One major cause of airway obstruction when reclining is obesity. Grossly overweight people often have many health concerns, including breathing problems, which are aggravated by disrupted sleep. Excess weight and a lack of muscle tone cause the soft tissue that lines the airways to collapse upon itself, cutting off normal breathing. Weight loss and supervised exercise are recommended as part of the treatment, as well as stopping smoking and avoiding alcohol.
This abnormality can also be caused by narcotic painkillers or other pharmaceutical drugs. Serious illnesses including heart disease are made worse when normal sleeping patterns are disrupted. Studies show that different parts of the brain can be affected, which makes the symptoms different in each person afflicted. Some will have difficulty concentrating or performing familiar tasks, others may suffer memory loss.
Dental devices are mouthpieces that fit over the teeth and advance the lower jaw. This is done gradually, with adjustments to the mouthpiece, until the prescribed adjustment is achieved. The devices are made so the patient can do the adjustments; this minimizes discomfort. The advancement of the lower jaw keeps upper airways open. There are many different devices on the market. It's informative to go online and look at the options, materials used, and guarantees offered by manufacturers.
It is usually other people in the household who alert sufferers to their problem, because those afflicted are unaware that they have irregular breathing patterns. For those who live with such a person, the snoring is annoying but the interruptions to breathing are frightening. A definitive diagnosis can be made at a clinic which monitors sleeping behavior during one or more nights spent under observation.
Dental appliances for sleep apnea are recommended as the first thing to try in treating this disorder. Not getting adequate rest is a serious handicap, so anyone who suspects that they or family members have this problem should seek medical help. Lifestyle changes alone might suffice if people are truly dedicated to losing weight and exercising their way back to health. However, any such major changes should also be done under medical supervision.
People afflicted with this disorder rarely get adequate rest, because they stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping. The interruptions last from ten seconds to several minutes, and this may happen many times an hour. Understandably, sufferers are fatigued, sleepy during the day, and may become increasingly irritable and even aggressive. They have difficulty performing routine tasks and may become clinically depressed.
There are different types of apnea. A small fraction of cases are caused by brain stem problems. The majority are what is called 'obstructive', involving a physical blockage of the airways. This is the disorder that responds to the use of an oral mouthpiece, which is recommended by sleeping disorder specialists as the first thing to try in treatment.
One major cause of airway obstruction when reclining is obesity. Grossly overweight people often have many health concerns, including breathing problems, which are aggravated by disrupted sleep. Excess weight and a lack of muscle tone cause the soft tissue that lines the airways to collapse upon itself, cutting off normal breathing. Weight loss and supervised exercise are recommended as part of the treatment, as well as stopping smoking and avoiding alcohol.
This abnormality can also be caused by narcotic painkillers or other pharmaceutical drugs. Serious illnesses including heart disease are made worse when normal sleeping patterns are disrupted. Studies show that different parts of the brain can be affected, which makes the symptoms different in each person afflicted. Some will have difficulty concentrating or performing familiar tasks, others may suffer memory loss.
Dental devices are mouthpieces that fit over the teeth and advance the lower jaw. This is done gradually, with adjustments to the mouthpiece, until the prescribed adjustment is achieved. The devices are made so the patient can do the adjustments; this minimizes discomfort. The advancement of the lower jaw keeps upper airways open. There are many different devices on the market. It's informative to go online and look at the options, materials used, and guarantees offered by manufacturers.
It is usually other people in the household who alert sufferers to their problem, because those afflicted are unaware that they have irregular breathing patterns. For those who live with such a person, the snoring is annoying but the interruptions to breathing are frightening. A definitive diagnosis can be made at a clinic which monitors sleeping behavior during one or more nights spent under observation.
Dental appliances for sleep apnea are recommended as the first thing to try in treating this disorder. Not getting adequate rest is a serious handicap, so anyone who suspects that they or family members have this problem should seek medical help. Lifestyle changes alone might suffice if people are truly dedicated to losing weight and exercising their way back to health. However, any such major changes should also be done under medical supervision.
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