Sleep Apnea Spokane Valley, WA
 Did you know that approximately one-third of individuals struggle to achieve the recommended seven hours of peaceful sleep each night?
While many drift into slumber without concern, those grappling with sleep apnea face interruptions, gasps, and breath struggles, impeding their journey into dreamland.
Thankfully, solutions exist for this disorder. Various treatment options cater to individual comfort levels.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by shallow breaths or breathing pauses during sleep.
These pauses, lasting around 10 seconds and occurring multiple times throughout the night, are often accompanied by snorts, choking sounds, or loud gasps.
Disrupting the regular sleep cycle, sleep apnea results in poor sleep quality and potential health complications.
Types of Sleep Apnea
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Throat muscles relax during sleep, causing airway blockage or constriction, leading to breathing struggles and oxygen level drops.
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Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Occurs when the brain fails to send signals to throat muscles responsible for breathing. Unlike OSA, there's no physical obstruction, with CSA often linked to medical conditions like heart failure or stroke.
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Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CompSAS): Arises when OSA treatment, typically through continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, triggers central sleep apnea. |
What are Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Recognition of sleep apnea symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment, including morning headaches, witnessed breathing pauses, loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, memory issues, nocturia, and mood changes.
Root Causes
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Obesity: Excess weight can lead to fatty tissue buildup around the neck and throat, potentially obstructing the airway.
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Anatomical Factors: Certain physical features, such as thick necks or enlarged tonsils, predispose individuals to sleep apnea.
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Alcohol and Sedatives: Consumption before bedtime can relax throat muscles, increasing airway obstruction risks.
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Smoking: Promotes inflammation and fluid retention in the airway, contributing to narrowing and obstruction.
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Neuromuscular Disorders: Conditions like muscular dystrophy or Parkinson's disease may disrupt breathing muscle function.
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Medical Conditions: Congestive heart failure, hypertension, and hormonal disorders may elevate sleep apnea risks.
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Nasal Congestion: Chronic congestion hampers nasal breathing, increasing reliance on mouth breathing during sleep. |
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Treatment options include:
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy: Delivers a steady airflow through a mask worn during sleep, preventing breathing pauses associated with OSA.
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Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) Therapy: Offers distinct inhalation and exhalation pressure levels, beneficial for patients struggling with CPAP pressure or specific medical conditions.
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Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV) Therapy: Monitors breathing patterns, adjusting air pressure accordingly, commonly prescribed for CSA or complex sleep apnea syndrome.
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Oral Appliances: Custom-made night guard worn during sleep, repositioning the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open, often preferred for mild OSA cases.
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Surgery: Reserved for severe cases unresponsive to other treatments, options include Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP),
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Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA) Surgery, Tracheostomy, Lingual Tonsillectomy, and Genioglossus Advancement (GA) or Tongue Base Reduction. |
Addressing sleep apnea is crucial for overall health.
In addition to medical interventions, lifestyle modifications like weight management and sleeping positions play pivotal roles in symptom reduction, especially for milder cases.
Schedule a consultation with our dentist here in Spokane Valley to learn more about our services or call us at (509) 928-4746 for further details! |
