Do you have trouble sleeping?
Make sure you’re getting the most from your slumber by investing in sleep apnoea therapy for your OSA.
What is OSA?
OSA stands for obstructive sleep apnoea which is a potentially harmful condition that can affect your direct state of wellbeing as well as your long term overall health. OSA is a form of sleep apnoea that involves excess tissue in the throat blocking the air passage that enables natural breathing for a good night’s sleep. Once this clear passage is blocked this begins to suffocate the body, and once your brain realises that this is happening it will induce an emergency reaction which kick starts the breathing process causing you to gasp and partially wake in order to get the oxygen you need.
This process can happen hundreds of times a night, and disrupt your sleep so much that you feel exhausted when you wake up. This is a dangerous condition that can lead to many health problems including:
- Fatigue (constant exhaustion and tiredness)
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart attacks, irregular heart function and cardiovascular failure
- Depression due to constant stress and tiredness
What causes sleep apnoea?
If you’re overweight then you may naturally have thicker tissue around your neck and chin. This can constrict your breathing and induce snoring. Men also have a higher risk of developing sleep apnoea although there are many other contributing risks that can increase your risk of sleep apnoea, such as:
- Any age over 40
- Having larger than usual nostrils
- Having a smaller jaw
- Hereditary factors (a history of sleep apnoea)
- Any type of nasal obstruction
- Mouth breathing during your sleep (as this causes the lower jaw to relax and push tissue towards your airway)
How do I know if I have sleep apnoea?
Many partners of individuals with sleep apnoea notice that their partner snores or notice that they wake up many times every night. This is often the first way people discover that they have a problem with the quality of their breathing while they sleep. Many parents also notice that their child may wake many times a night or have trouble breathing. However, in order to know for sure if you have sleep apnoea the best way to be diagnosed is by a sleep specialist. Your GP may be able to refer you to one, and once you have confirmed diagnosis you can visit MyDental Care in Meadowbank or North Strathfield to receive treatment.
Sleep apnoea treatment by Dr Louis Chan involves the use of oral appliance therapy which corrects the position of your jaws and throat tissue. This can open your airway enough so that you can receive adequate oxygen, which means that your body does not have to manually restart your breathing.
Dr Louis Chan will guide you through your treatment and will recommend surgery or CPAP therapy if more extensive treatment is required. You can rest assured that you will receive the treatment that is the best for you.
Make the most out of your life without sleep apnoea
Once sleep apnoea is treated many people express how reinvigorated they feel and how much energy they have compared to before. This is especially true of parents with children that have sleep apnoea as sleep apnoea can impact your child’s concentration levels and behaviour.
If you think you, your partner or your child may have sleep apnoea please come and see Dr Louis Chan.
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