Sleep Apnea

Symptoms | Causes | Treatments

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Sleep apnea, known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is more common in the U.S. than asthma or diabetes. Generally, the disorder strikes men more often than women and it progressively worsens with age and increased weight. Basically, during sleep, relaxed muscle activity leads to a closing of the throat and airway, which forces sufferers to take in a deep breath of air and awakens them. This cycle repeats throughout the night, preventing the individual from getting a restful, deep sleep.


In this Video, Dr. Rawson Explains Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

 

Sleep apnea is prevalent in as many as an estimated 18 million Canadians alone. This statistic denotes that approximately 1 in every 15 Canadian, or 6.62% of the total Canadian population have a case of sleep apnea. Two to four percent of all Canadians have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea. This accounts for approximately 1 in 50 individuals being undiagnosed.

Regardless of the type of sleep disorder, the impact on individuals is considerable. Clinically, people suffering from sleep disorders have an increased likelihood of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and mortality. 

At the same time, these individuals experience reduced cognitive performance that lowers job performance, decreases their quality of life and makes them ten times more likely to be in an automobile accident. These individuals are more susceptible to work-related injuries, depression and family discord, too.

Economically, sleep disorders in Canada are estimated to cost $60 - $115 billion annually for medical and indirect expenses. Sleep studies and therapies alone cost an estimated $5 billion per year. Individuals with undiagnosed sleep disorders have also been documented as heavy users of medical services.

Signs and Symptoms

Leading risk factors for OSA are obesity, increasing age, male gender, anatomic abnormalities of the upper airway, a family history of sleep apnea, alcohol or sedative use, smoking and hypertension.

Clinical signs and symptoms of OSA include:

  • Intermittent snoring with pauses

  • Awakenings with gasping or choking

  • Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD)

  • Fragmented, non-refreshing, light sleep

  • Excessive daytime sleepiness

  • Poor memory and/or clouded intellect

  • Irritability

  • Morning headaches

  • Decreased sex drive or impotence

In this Video, Dr. Rawson Explains Common Factors that Affect Sleep.

Types of Sleep Disorders

 

Seven types of sleep disorders occur most frequently in Canada. We have many treatments that can improve the symptoms of those disorders but they may be permanent problems. The disorders that you are looking at are conditions where a nerve may have an irreversible injury peripherally or in the CNS (brain) or the last one in the bone. We use low level or cold laser treatments in combination with medications and our appliance therapy to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. The combination of treatment in this way usually reduces or sometimes eliminates the dosage of medications and therefore the side effects (drowsiness, fatigue, constipation, dizziness, etc), which in itself improves quality of life.

Sleep Apnea Syndrome, affecting an estimated 20 million individuals

Chronic/Severe Insomnia, affecting an estimated 20 million individuals

Circadian Rhythm Disorder, affecting an estimated 17 million individuals

RLS/PLMD: Restless Leg Syndrome / Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, affecting an estimated 10 million individuals

Parasomnia, affecting an estimated 3 million individuals

Cheyne-Stokes, affecting an estimated 1.5 million individuals

Narcolepsy, affecting an estimated 300,000 individuals

In this Video, Dr. Rawson Explains Disorders Related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea and TMJ.

Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea 

The best way to diagnose OSA (or any sleep disorder) is to catch them when they are happening. That is why there are essentially two alternatives for diagnosing them: in a sleep lab or at home.

At the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Office we use the latest diagnostic equipment for sleep disorders. One of these is the Watch-Pat device which fits comfortably over the patient’s hand and is worn for one night. The resulting data reveals key information, including the number and length of periods that the patient’s sleep was interrupted. We then use this data, combined with other diagnostic tools, to determine the appropriate treatment plan to correct the problem.

Three Categories of Treatment

 

Lifestyle Changes.

Many individuals can relieve the symptoms of OSA by increasing exercise and losing weight. Among other improvements, this reduces fat and increases muscle tone in the throat, which lessens any airway constriction. Lifestyle changes are recommended even in cases when they, alone, will not resolve the problem.


Medical Interventions.

Many OSA sufferers experience improvements using an at-home sleep device that delivers Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). The patient wears a mask to sleep that is attached to a hose and a pump, which supplies air at a stable pressure level to prevent the airway closure that leads to apnea. While effective, the machine can be noisy and cumbersome. In fact, 80% of patients are non-compliant after one year.

In the most severe cases, the only other medical intervention is surgery. This is an option of last resort. During the surgery, portions of the uvula and wall of the throat are removed and the jaw bone may be cut to create a wider airway passage.

Dental Orthotic.

At the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Office, we prefer to use non-invasive, customized and affordable dental orthotic appliances whenever possible to reposition the jaw, mouth and teeth in a way that helps prevent airway closure. In 2006, the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine supported the use of oral appliances as first line treatment option for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Dr. Steven Olmos, founder of the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Office, has created a series of specialized orthotics just for this purpose. These portable devices are placed into the patient’s mouth and worn throughout the night. They are easy to clean and maintain and are noiseless. As a result, many patients prefer the dental orthotics over CPAP.

In this Video, Dr. Rawson Explains the use of Dental Sleep Appliances for Treating Sleep Disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea and TMJ.