Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a disorder where breathing becomes very shallow or stops altogether while sleeping. This disrupted breathing, which is usually due to some type of physical blockage in the airway, results in fragmented, unrefreshing sleep as well as low blood oxygen levels. If left untreated, sleep apnea is associated with many serious health risks that affect your whole body such as high blood pressure, heart disease and depression.

Anybody can! In fact, About 70 million Americans have chronic sleep problems. Obstructive sleep apnea affects 25 million people in the US alone, and 85% of individuals are unaware of their condition and remain undiagnosed. Recent statistics show that 25% of adults aged 30-70 have this disorder. While sleep apnea is more common in men, it absolutely is prevalent with women as well. Sleep apnea can affect all ages (even kids!) but is seen most in ages above 50 for both men and women. Though the classic picture of a sleep apnea patient is an older male with a larger neck size, we are finding that this disorder affects everybody regardless of gender, age, size, and health history.

Sleep is critical to health and overall wellbeing. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development.

Getting inadequate sleep over time can raise your risk for chronic (long-term) health problems. People with untreated sleep apnea are fall into a state of persistent sleep deprivation which can lead to high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, strokes, ADHD symptoms, type 2 diabetes, mood disorders, stroke, memory problems, sexual dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, inability to lose weight, and chronic fatigue. Sleep apnea also increases the risk of drowsy driving and motor vehicle accidents.

Each case of OSA can be unique to the patient, but there are many recognizable symptoms. These symptoms include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, waking up choking or out of breath, dry mouth, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, mouth breathing, early morning headaches, daily fatigue, and difficulty falling or staying asleep.

If any of these apply to you, please take our sleep questionnaire to help gauge the quality of your sleep. For a more accurate diagnosis, we can work with your physician to administer a take-home sleep study. An at-home sleep study will give us clearer insight into your sleep patterns by providing comprehensive data such as how often you snore, what your oxygen levels are throughout the night, and how often you wake up - even if you don't realize you’re awake.

Depending on your severity and the root cause of your issue, there are several ways to treat sleep apnea. C-PAP machines are a treatment option, however, many patients find them uncomfortable to use consistently. Oral appliance therapy can help stabilize your airway, and is generally regarded as a more comfortable treatment option.

Sleep apnea is often treated through general lifestyle wellness changes, such as getting exercise, losing weight, and switching sleeping positions. Diet plays a large role; limiting caffeine, alcohol, and food consumption late in the day can also be beneficial. Breathe Right® strips, mute nasal dilators, myotape sleep strips, and similar products can ease obstructions. Surgical options are also available depending on the patient. Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery, or MMA surgery, tightens the soft palate and enlarges the upper airways by pulling the upper and lower jaws forward. ENT surgeons can perform tonsil, soft palate, and nasal surgeries to help clear the airway. Treatment involving surgery is recommended only if the throat and mouth have severe obstructions and is commonly regarded as a last resort.

Oral Appliance Therapy is the main alternative to C-PAP therapy and treats sleep apnea through comfortable, custom-fitted oral appliances. These mandibular advancement devices are small, fit like a mouthguard, and reposition the mouth to clear the airway and increase airflow. The appliances move the jaw into a forward position, lifting the palate and increasing space behind the tongue so you can breathe easier and sleep better. 

A sleep apnea oral appliance can also reduce symptoms such as snoring, teeth grinding, and fatigue. Because these appliances are fitted, portable, and do not require electricity, they have a much higher long-term compliance rate for sleep apnea treatment compared to traditional C-PAP therapy.

At Magnolia Sleep Solutions, we custom-fit oral appliances and treatment plans for each of our patients depending on the severity and type of sleep apnea conditions they experience. All devices we use are FDA-approved and we are proud to work with companies such as Somnomed and ProSomnus that are the leaders in OAT research.

To learn about oral appliance therapy in Wilmington, North Carolina, and surrounding areas, contact our office at 910-208-0783 or office@magnoliasleepsolutions.com and schedule your free virtual consultation today!