Sleep Apnea Santa Barbara

Sleep apnea is a relatively common, and serious, health condition in which a sufferer will stop breathing periodically throughout the night. Sufferers are often unaware of the condition; however it may be apparent to their bed partners who see and hear the sufferer gasp for air as they recover from an episode, or even more frequently, the bed partner can’t get a good night’s sleep because the sleep apnea sufferer is snoring.

Average sleep apnea episodes last from 10 to 30 seconds, but can go on for much longer.  During this time, the patient’s body is starving for oxygen and may experience physiological responses to what the body perceives as a threat to survival. These episodes can occur many times – even hundreds of times a night.

Try this experiment: Blow out all of the air from your lungs and see how long you can last without breathing in. It doesn’t feel good, does it? This is the same response that a person with sleep apnea will experience throughout a typical night of sleep, again, sometimes hundreds of times a night. It’s no wonder why sleep apnea patients wake feeling exhausted and frequently wake up with headaches.

There are actually three different types of sleep apnea, based on the cause:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea – blockage of the airway by the soft tissues of the throat, the tongue, the adenoids, or the tonsils.
• Central Sleep Apnea – a condition where the brain no longer signals the sufferer to breathe regularly through the night
• Complex Sleep Apnea – a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is the physical blockage of the airway and can be related to any of the following conditions:

• Poor occlusion (jaw position)
• Allergies
• Large tonsils and/or adenoids
• Enlarged tongues
• Poor posture and spinal alignment
• Poor sleep posture
• Excess body weight
• Narrow or inflamed nasal passages
• Mouth breathing as a child

Over a lifetime these conditions degrade a patient’s health as their body no longer operates in an optimal state. The tongue may not be held in a proper position to keep the airway open, or the soft tissues (fat, the soft palate, the uvula, the tonsils and adenoids) of the throat may be allowed to compromise the patient’s breathing. Snoring will be a common clue in these patients.

The Effects of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition. It can dramatically shorten life expectancy. How? Sleep apnea causes blood oxygen levels to drop during the time the patient is asleep, and over time this nightly starvation of oxygen can cause deterioration in the patient’s organs. Most patients will eventually show signs of organ failure, high blood pressure and diabetes. Our bodies are designed to have a steady supply of oxygen to support our brain, and this repeated lack of fresh air can also affect brain health. Sleep apnea has been clinically proven to lead to stroke, kidney failure, and congestive heart failure. Sleep apnea is much more serious than many people understand.

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

If you think you may suffer from sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with Dr. Mark Weiser as soon as possible. The initial visit will most likely include a brief exam and a couple of simple screening tests. You can get a jump on these by completing our online Sleep Evaluation Form. These tests will help Dr. Weiser determine if there is a need for a Sleep Study.

A Sleep Study, also called “Sleep Screening”, can be done at a sleep study center, in the hospital, or even at home with instrumentation such as the Watch Pat. If done in a sleep center, the patient who is undergoing these tests will usually have a private room where they are connected to monitors that measure brain activity, cardiovascular activity, movement of the eyes and legs, as well as several other sensors to collect other data. From a thorough examination of this activity, the doctor can determine or confirm the existence and severity of sleep apnea. Following the test, the diagnosing Sleep Apnea physician, the dentist and the patient can work together to determine the sleep apnea treatment that is best.

If you live in Santa Barbara (or anywhere in Southern California, including San Luis Obispo or Ventura), and you think that you have sleep apnea, contact Santa Barbara sleep apnea dentist, Dr. Mark Weiser today. Call (805) 754.3653 for the Santa Barbara location or (310) 237.6620 for the Los Angeles location.