Snoring is the name we give to the sound produced during sleep by vibrations in the back of the throat (mostly the uvula and soft palate) . It is estimated that between 30 to 50 percent of adults snore during sleep. A percentage of those people snore because of a condition called sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where a person temporarily stops while sleeping, and these episodes occur repeatedly during the night. This causes a lack of oxygen to all parts of the body. Over time the circulation to the brain is affected and leads to narrowing of blood vessels that can cause a stroke and even death. Signs that may indicate that you suffer from sleep apnea are sleepiness during the day, irritability, lack of focus and decreased libido to name a few.
Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea
Since Sleep Apnea is a disorder that can result in serious health problems, it is important that you consult with your physician to determine if further studies are necessary. To determine if you have sleep apnea, your physician will usually refer you to a sleep center for a "sleep study" or polysomnogram, to determine how frequently you stop breathing at night and for how long.
This excerpt from Wikipedia explains some health problems associated with snoring:
"Snoring is known to cause sleep deprivation to snorers and those around them, as well as daytime drowsiness, irritability, lack of focus and decreased libido. It has also been suggested that it can cause significant psychological and social damage to sufferers. Multiple studies reveal a positive correlation between loud snoring and risk of heart attack (about 34% chance) and stroke (about 67% chance)."
If you think you may suffer from sleep apnea and would like to know more, you can download this SLEEP APNEA QUESTIONNAIRE to help you determine the likelyhood that you are at risk.
There are three methods of treatment for both snoring and sleep apnea:
1- Oral appliances fabricated by your dentist
2- Continuous positive airway pressure machines(CPAP) and
For the treatment of snooring and sleep apnea in west palm beach, Dr. Boudet can treat both sleep apnea and snoring with dental appliances with great success but if you have not had a sleep study and a diagnosis he may need to refer you to a medical doctor for diagnosis of sleep apnea. Mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea respond well to the oral appliances, but the severe cases usually need the CPAP machine.