David J. Martin, DDS Blog

Continuing along with the same theme. There are several more short articles that will follow. I feel very strongly on the need to recognize sleep and airway problems. The correlation with Neuromuscular dentistry is very intimate and something I feel very strong about.

Snoring is not just a bad habit that affects anywhere from 30% of women to more than 40% of men. The act of snoring can be a sign of a more serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea, which, if left untreated, can lead to neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular problems including depression, congestive heart failure, even stroke.

Medical dictionaries define snoring as a rough, rattling noise made while breathing during sleep, caused by the vibration of the back of the roof of the mouth and the uvula (dangling structure at the back of the mouth). When a person inhales and exhales, air is on its way to the lungs, traveling past the tongue, through the soft palate, uvula, and tonsils. When awake, the muscles in the back of the throat tighten, holding these structures in place, which prevents them from collapsing and vibrating in the airway. For a patient who experiences sleep apnea symptoms, the soft palate and uvula may collapse during sleep, resulting in snoring, cessation of breath or choking.

More important than damaging personal relationships, the act of persistent snoring can be a symptom of a sleep-breathing disorder that narrows the airway and decreases oxygen flow to the brain. Often one of the leading sleep apnea symptoms, snoring can also contribute to the development of high blood pressure, as well as heart and lung complications, and thus, should be taken very seriously.

Frequent snoring is one of many sleep apnea symptoms, which include partial or complete cessation during sleep, reductions in blood oxygen levels, severe sleep fragmentation, or excessive daytime sleepiness. One of the more severe sleep apnea symptoms involves the complete cessation of breathing during sleep, which is a sign of moderate to severe sleep apnea. In this instance, patients experience a pattern of snoring where the patient snores loudly up to a certain point where, for a period of time—about 10 seconds or longer—they’ll stop breathing completely. Then all of a sudden, the sleeping patient will open their mouth and gasp for air, sometimes experiencing a choking sensation. This vicious cycle can repeat itself several times an hour, during a single night.

Loud snoring, or periods of sleep where the patient does not receive air for 10 seconds or more are two obstructive sleep apnea symptoms that lead to two significant, but treatable medical problems: 1) Neuropsychiatric problems–patients are frequently significantly sleep deprived, which can lead to depression, cognitive changes, anxiety, or personality changes. 2) Cardiovascular problems such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, or even cerebral vascular disease including stroke.

Sleep apnea symptoms and signs are often overlooked, because most people discount snoring to gender, age or genetics, however the lack of restful sleep can contribute to a variety of medical conditions and disorders unrelated to sleep including weight gain, muscle fatigue and pain, acid reflux disease, or more. This is why it is necessary to speak with your dentist about treatment options if you or your loved ones experience any sleep apnea symptoms or snoring, so you and your family can improve the quality of your health—one night at a time.

Happy New year to everyone. I hope all enjoyed their time with family and friends.

This is the beginning of a series on sleep disorders and their effect on your health and well being. This first article is a general overview and I will continue with several more that delve more into the implications of the lack of sleep.

Did you know that approximately 90% of people who snore may actually suffer from an undiagnosed sleep disorder? Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder that can have many consequences including chronic daytime sleepiness and fatigue, cardiovascular problems, even stroke. It is important for everyone to know the signs and symptoms of apnea in order to proactively treat this serious problem and to prevent the progression of apnea and to improve the overall quality of you or your loved one’s life.

Imagine spending half of your night under water. Similar to the effects of not being able to breathe under water, apnea is defined as cessation of airflow for more than 10 seconds, which means that patients can go for periods of 10 seconds or more without sending the necessary oxygen they need to their brains. Commonly a side effect to snoring, these periods of cessation repeat themselves as much as 20 times per hour during sleep, increasing the likelihood of serious complications, however snoring is not necessarily an implication of sleep apnea.

There are two common types: Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), each with its own specific symptoms, implications and treatment. This is why it is crucial for your physician to perform the necessary tests to correctly diagnose your sleep disorder as one of the two specific types of apnea before developing a sleep treatment regimen.

Central Sleep Apnea is sleep disorder where there is a loss of breathing effort resulting in episodes of apnea, and is common in patients with heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, or in newborns. CSA occurs when the brain fails to send the appropriate signals to the muscles which initiate breathing, which essentially stops the patient from breathing. This interruption of breathing may be due to the immaturity of the respiratory centers of the brain, as in pediatric cases, or due to the presence of drugs, seizures, brain injury or neuromuscular disorders.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the repeated obstruction of breathing during sleep, caused by the collapse of the throat air passage and is common among approximately 17% of middle aged men and women, and also among children. OSA occurs when breathing is obstructed during sleep because of the collapse of the throat and breathing passage. Medical health, age and other factors may contribute to OSA including obesity, abnormality of the facial bones, smoking cigarettes or consuming alcohol. OSA has an even greater impact on co-existing illnesses such as heart failure and stroke, and should be taken seriously by both patient and physician.

In addition to CSA and OSA, a small percentage of infants and adults may suffer from “mixed apnea,” showing symptoms of both forms of the sleep disorder. Patients who snore, or are at risk for any form of sleep disorder should look at some of the most common Sleep Apnea Symptoms, or consult their physician or dentist about a treatment option.