Ben and Gary Show - Episode 44

Hey You! Wakeup And Breathe!

When some people sleep, their airways become closed and they stop breathing for up to a minute. This often happens multiple times a night. It is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Fortunately, when you have stopped breathing, you wake yourself up and start to breathe again. The constant sleep interruption, however, causes you to wake up tired, feeling irritable and unfocused.

Who suffers most from Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Men are more likely to have sleep apnea than women. It is also associated with obesity, large neck size and snoring.

How serious is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Ignoring the condition can put you at risk for high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and even death. You do want to seek treatment.

What to do if you think you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

When sleep apnea is suspected, your next step is evaluation by a sleep doc. He will refer you to a sleep clinic, or have you measure yourself at home with a special device.

What are the treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

A CPAP machine is the preferred remedy. It keeps the airway open with a steady flow of air through a face mask.

If you cannot tolerate the CPAP mask, your dentist can make a retainer type device to wear as you sleep. This device moves your lower jaw forward slightly to keep the tongue from closing your airway.

Regardless of the treatment, followup to measure its effectiveness is a must.

Could your child have Obstructive Sleep Apnea and not ADD?

For you parents, our colleague Andrew Cobb DDS tells us that children may have sleep apnea and not ADD. The symptoms of both conditions are similar.