Snoring is a sound that is produced when the air passes through relaxed tissue in the back of the throat. Mild snoring can be treated easily with a sleep orthotic. However, when snoring becomes sleep apnea, the tissue collapses causing an obstruction - although other reasons can also cause obstruction like tonsils or adenoids that need to be removed to allow more airway space. It becomes difficult to breathe through the confined space that remains. For some people, the tissue collapses so severely that it totally blocks the airway and breathing is nearly impossible. The result is an apneic event.

Sleep apnea is a disorder affecting more than 12 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. It affects men and women of all ages, even children. Apnea is a Greek word, meaning "without breath." People affected by sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer, possibly occurring hundreds of times per night. The heart and lungs panic, sending a distress signal to the brain. The brain, in turn, floods the body with adrenalin and quickens the heartbeat. The chest heaves as its muscles try to force the body awake in order to restore airway muscle tone and allows air to pass to the lungs again. The body succeeds and for a moment the airway opens, the individual gasps and breathes, then promptly falls back asleep and repeats this scenario over and over again.

Symptoms
Can you imagine this action taking place hundreds of times each night? This is why it affects the cardiovascular system, causes sexual dysfunction, depression and even death. The bad news is that most people don't remember upon awakening that they had the episodes. Instead they notice symptoms like:

• Headaches upon awakening
• Daytime sleepiness
• Being sleepy during daily activities (driving, reading, watching TV)
• Awakening with a jolt, gasp or cough
• Trouble staying asleep
• High blood pressure or hypertension
• Feeling tired despite a full night of sleep

Treatment
We may refer you to go to a sleep clinic for an overnight sleep study (called a polysomnogram). We consult with your physician to determine whether an airway oral appliance will be an effective treatment for you!

Dr. Bixby has the special training necessary to treat Sleep Disorders and he works together with sleep centers and physicians to achieve the best possible results. Many times, a sleep orthotic is the only treatment needed. Other times, a sleep orthotic can be used in combination with CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine and/or UPPP surgery.

It is good to know that oral airway appliances are economical, non-invasive, completely reversible, totally painless and are FDA approved to be worn at night. There are several kinds of oral appliances we can provide. We will determine which one is best for your specific problem.

If you or someone you know snores, call us to schedule a sleep screening. We can help prevent more serious problems.