Researchers presenting at the American Urological Association meeting in Washington, D.C. suggest that men with erectile dysfunction should be tested for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study found a link between the two disorders in 870 middle-aged men who are part of the Law Enforcement Cardiac Screening Program. According to lead researcher Dr. Boback Berookhim “The study is the largest to date to demonstrate an independent association between ED and OSA after controlling for cardiovascular risk factors”.

Dr. Berookim also said that the data suggest that effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnea can improve erectile dysfunction in men.  He went on “The results suggest that men with even mild ED should be referred for OSA evaluation since untreated OSA can increase the risk of hypertension, heart attack, stroke, obesity, diabetes and heart failure.”

Once obstructive sleep apnea has been diagnosed the most common treatment is CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure which entails sleeping with a mask that is attached to a machine that supplies pressurized air throughout the night keeping the airway open. Many patients find sleeping with the CPAP machine and mask uncomfortable or claustrophobic. For those patients treatment with a custom fabricated oral appliance may be the answer. The oral appliance is small device that is fitted over the teeth and which gently places the jaw in a position that keeps the airway open during sleep

If you are experiencing symptoms that suggest you might suffer from obstructive sleep apnea please contact Dr. Mark Levy at 614-476-6696 today to schedule your consultation.