Author: Signal Hill Dental Centre Team

22 Mar Snoring as a Warning Sign

Snoring is a big problem for many sleepers, and an even bigger problem for their sleeping partners. However snoring can be a sign for an even bigger problem, OSA. OSA stands for obstructive sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that occurs during sleep due to the narrowing and or total closure of the airway. When you fall asleep your muscles relax, including those that control your tongue and throat. Soft tissues at the back of your throat sag, and can cause a narrowing in the airway. Not only does this cause blocked airway cause a loud and disturbing snore noise, but it significantly affects your general health by the lack of oxygen entering your body. When your brain detects a lack of oxygen, it prompts a momentary arousal of sleep to draw breath. That is why many patients suffering from OSA wake up feeling tired and unrested. Other long term consequences of sleep apnea are diabetes, heart disease, stroke, depression, and death. A frightening 40 - 80% of stoke sufferers also suffer from OSA. Patients of OSA are also four times more likely to have a heart attack. A surprising 1 in every 5 people are affected by OSA, and an even more shocking 90% of those patients go undiagnosed. How can this problem be solved?