The word “apnea” literally means “without breath.”
There are three types of apnea. In all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.
1. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common is usually caused when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.
2. Central sleep apnea is not caused by a blocked airway but rather the brain’s failure to signal the muscles to breathe.
3. Mixed apnea is a combination of the two.
With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.
Sleep apnea is very common and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. A sign that a person has sleep apnea is snoring.
Risks factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children.
Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.
Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, headaches and even death.
Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.
People who have severe snoring episodes during sleep will have a spouse who complains of having interrupted sleep as well.
Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues.
Treatment may involve a sleep study, a referral to a sleep medicine physician and ultimately an oral appliance to cure your apnea.
The oral appliance that is right for your particular problem is where our office can help.
After an initial consultation with Drs Cater and Galante, they will determine the best course of action for you.
Many patients report feeling exhausted during the day, having trouble staying awake mid-afternoon and in general feeling somewhat depressed and lethargic on a regular basis. Weight gain is also a symptom of undiagnosed sleep apnea.
You do not need to live with these symptoms any longer. There is help for you and it can be a very easy solution.
Schedule your complimentary consultation today by calling 916-435-8000 and ask Nataysia or Margaret to schedule your FREE Sleep Apnea Consultation and Exam.
What is Sleep Apnea? The word “apnea” literally means “without breath.”
There are three types of apnea. In all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.
1. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common is usually caused when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. 2. Central sleep apnea is not caused by a blocked airway but rather the brain’s failure to signal the muscles to breathe.
3. Mixed apnea is a combination of the two.
With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.
Sleep apnea is very common and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. A sign that a person has sleep apnea is snoring.
Risks factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children.
Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences. Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, headaches and even death. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. People who have severe snoring episodes during sleep will have a spouse who complains of having interrupted sleep as well.
Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues.
Treatment may involve a sleep study, a referral to a sleep medicine physician and ultimately an oral appliance to cure your apnea.
The oral appliance that is right for your particular problem is where our office can help. After an initial consultation with Drs Cater and Galante, they will determine the best course of action for you.
Many patients report feeling exhausted during the day, having trouble staying awake mid-afternoon and in general feeling somewhat depressed and lethargic on a regular basis. Weight gain is also a symptom of undiagnosed sleep apnea. You do not need to live with these symptoms any longer. There is help for you and it can be a very easy solution.
Schedule your complimentary consultation today by calling 916-435-8000 and ask Nataysia or Margaret to schedule your FREE Sleep Apnea Consultation and Exam.
