If you find yourself lacking energy to get through your day or if you experience daytime sleepiness you need to schedule an appointment to get checked for obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep breathing disorder but the vast majority of sufferers have not been diagnosed.

Obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to heart disease and stroke. It also causes complications of many other conditions such as diabetes.

Most patients do not realize they have a sleep breathing disorder and only seek testing when a bed partner (or someone in the next room) complains about loud snoring and gasping sounds throughout the night. The disorder causes the sleeper to stop breathing many times each night only to briefly waken with a gasp to begin breathing again. Sleep is disrupted and the body is deprived of essential oxygen.

Diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea requires a sleep study. Most sleep studies are performed in sleep centers or at hospitals but home sleep studies are now available. These home sleep studies allow you to spend the night in the comfort of your own bed while still receiving a diagnosis.

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea usually begins with a CPAP machine. While CPAP therapy is a wonderful treatment for the disorder, about half of those given the machines cannot tolerate sleeping with them. Oral appliances created by a dentist who has special training in dental sleep medicine are a highly effective, comfortable way of keeping the airway open at night.

For more information about oral appliances and sleep apnea treatment please contact Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care in Columbus, OH today at 614-476-6696.