Simply Snoring...

Stories about loud snorers can at first seem quite funny until you consider what it must be like trying to sleep in that household. For many people it means sleeping in a different room altogether in an attempt to dull the roar.

Snoring occurs if throat structures are too large or the muscles in the throat relax to the point where the airway is narrowed. Like putting your thumb partway over the opening of a garden hose, the air passing through this narrowed region does so at a faster rate which causes various structures in the throat to vibrate producing the snoring sound.

Thankfully, effective solutions do exist to improve the quality of life of those affected.

Or Sleep Apnea?

The term “apnea” comes from the Greek word "apnoia" that literally means “without breath.” Sleep apneas are a cessation of breathing for 10 seconds or more; most lasting 10-30 seconds but some may last for one minute or longer. At this point the brain alerts the individual and this is accompanied by a sudden snort or gasp. These apneic events can occur up to several hundred times per night.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type and occurs when the airway becomes blocked during sleep.

Possible Signs of Sleep Apnea:

• Snoring.
• Interrupted breathing or choking during sleep.
• Waking with a headache.
• Strong urges to nap during the day.
• Jerking movements while sleeping.
• Waking up tired and thirsty.

Snoring on its own can be very disrupting but obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can have serious health consequences if left untreated and recent studies show that 1 in 5 adults has mild sleep apnea.

Surprisingly, it is estimated that 80-90% of people go undiagnosed.

Sleep apnea sufferers may experience:

• Morning headaches.
• Excessive daytime fatigue.
• Memory &/or learning impairment.
• Poor work performance.
• Loss of sexual interest.
• Irritability.
• Depression.
• Weight gain.

Furthermore, obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

Tram-Blair Snoring Clinic can help!

We can fit you with an oral appliance specially designed to treat problem snoring.

Oral appliances are small and easy to wear, making them ideal for every night use and are easy to travel with. These appliances resemble mouth guards and attach to both the upper and lower teeth with a mechanism that gently moves the lower jaw forward to prevent the tongue and soft tissue of the throat from blocking the airway during sleep. We offer Permanent Oral Appliances, which have been proven to effectively treat loud, regular snoring. They are a convenient and comfortable treatment option that have a high level of acceptance.

If you are looking for relief from chronic snoring,  contact us for a consultation today. If you are interested in some further reading, you can click on the link below to the article that appeared in The Record that we were involved in along with respirology and sleep medicine specialist Dr. Anil Nagpal.

http://www.therecord.com/living/healthfitness/article/517437--sleep-apnea-sleepless-nights