Your overall health depends on sufficient rest and sleep. You need air,
water, food – and sleep. Your brain and body require time to re-boot every
single day.
The effects of stress accumulate in your body, especially
your heart, throughout the day. When you finally rest at night, your heart
slows to decompress, relieving the stresses it has gathered. Your body needs
time to recoup and restore your energy to tackle a new day. Sleep
revitalizes your body and brain. Blood pressure decreases, and the pace of
age-related diseases slows down. Illnesses such as hypertension, obesity,
diabetes, and memory loss can be curbed.
Lack of sleep can burden
your heart with excessive stress and strain on the muscle. Strokes,
cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and – in severe circumstances – death
have all been connected to sleep disorders.
Snoring is often a pre-cursor to or symptom of a more critical health
concern known as sleep apnea. People who suffer from sleep apnea are dealing
with an airway obstruction. Most of the time, they don't even realize it.
The obstruction prevents them from getting the oxygen they need throughout
the night. Sleep apnea is a major contributing factor to heart disease.
Those suffering from sleep apnea experience elevated blood pressure, which
is a key risk factor in acquiring heart disease and suffering a stroke.
The result of sleep loss can be serious concerns with health and even
premature death. Sleep deprivation can negatively affect brain function,
increasing stress hormones and leading to depression.
Even if you
have only mild sleep apnea, being fitted with an oral appliance can result
in the reduction or even cessation of snoring. This could be a great gift to
your partner as well as yourself!
Most patients
diagnosed with sleep apnea are provided with a CPAP device, which is
considered the gold standard for treating moderate to severe sleep apnea.
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Air Pressure. The patient is fitted with
a mask connected to a machine that pumps a continuous stream of air into
their mouth or nose while they sleep. Unfortunately, many people find this
uncomfortable and choose to stop wearing the mask.
If you have sleep
apnea and are frustrated with your CPAP or find it intolerable, we can
provide an alternative treatment. Our doctors can custom fit you with an
oral appliance such as the SomnoDent™, Respire Blue Series™, or TAP™
(Thornton Adjustable Positioner). These are small acrylic devices that fit
over the upper and lower teeth the same way an orthodontic retainer or
mouthguard does. They gently realign your tongue and jaw to keep your airway
open, allowing improved air flow into your lungs during sleep. They are easy
to place and remove, easy to clean, and convenient for travel. These devices
are amazingly comfortable and have an excellent success rate for sleep apnea
and snoring.
Snoring and sleep apnea don't have to fill your nights. Give us a call today at (314) 892-8853 for a no cost/no obligation consultation.