Joondalup Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Treatment

If you snore, you must read more...

It is estimated that approximately 30-50% of the population snore at one time or another. Whilst loud snoring at it’s best can be a social problem that may strain relationships, for many men, women and children, loud habitual snoring may signal a potentially life threatening disorder called obstructive sleep apnoea, or OSA.

Apnoea means absence of breath. Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when the airway from the mouth to the lung becomes restricted as the muscles that normally hold it open relax during sleep. Interruptions to breathing can occur many times throughout the night, disrupting sleep and blocking oxygen from entering the lungs and reducing oxygen supply to vital organs. Each episode lasts from 10 seconds to a minute. A person is considered to have sleep apnoea if there are more than five partial or complete obstructions per hour of sleep.

Usually the person has no awareness of these brief episodes at the time, but finds that sleep is not refreshing.

There is evidence that people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea die prematurely. OSA may lead to increased blood pressure, or increased risk of heart disease or a life threatening event such as stroke or heart attack.

Research shows that people with OSA are at least 4 times as likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident as the disrupted night time sleep leads to a reduced ability to concentrate and increased chance of falling asleep at the wheel.

Signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea

People who have OSA almost always snore loudly, and usually have other symptoms including

tiredness on waking
excessive daytime sleepiness
choking or gasping during sleep
sore, dry throat on waking
morning headache
poor concentration
memory deterioration
decreased sex drive or impotence
personality changes that may include irritability
decrease in job performance
anxiety or depression

How are snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea treated?

Initially, a sleep test is necessary to distinguish between primary snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea, investigate, diagnose and pinpoint a suitable treatment. There are several treatment options which depend largely on the exact diagnosis and health of the patient.

Patients who snore, and are found not to have obstructive sleep apnoea may be fitted with an oral appliance custom-fitted by a dentist, which stops or reduces noise levels to an acceptable level.

The treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnoea is called continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP. This consists of a pump that blows air through a mask worn over the nose. This is worn at night to keep the airway open and allow breathing during sleep. Whilst CPAP has been proven effective, many people struggle to wear the mask regularly due to side effects ranging from mask discomfort to nasal congestion, irritation and headache.

Sleep apnoea appliances are a dental alternative available for people who can not tolerate CPAP or have mild to moderate apnoea and would prefer another option. These devices fit over the teeth like a mouthguard. They hold the jaw forward and can help to prevent the tongue from blocking the main airway.

Surgical treatments that reduce or eliminate tissue in the throat from the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, adenoid or tongue, or to adjust bony structures including the mouth, nose and facial structures may be used. These are generally only considered if the above options do not work.

There is no effective drug for treating obstructive sleep apnoea although a number have been tried. A number of other remedies have been marketed but none has been shown to be effective.

Lifestyle or behaviour changes that may help include weight loss, change of sleep position, medication to relieve nasal obstruction and avoidance of alcohol in the evening.