Obstructive Sleep Apnea & Snoring
Snoring can be disruptive and a sign of a serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder that occurs when breathing is repeatedly interrupted due to obstruction in the nose or throat. Snoring is often the first sign of obstructive sleep apnea and it can affect both children and adults. The airway/breathing obstruction causes frequent arousals during the night and prevents restorative sleep which can lead to daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea can also affect your overall health and lead to problems with weight gain, stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Sleep apnea can affect both children and adults. A sleep study will need to be performed in adults to accurately diagnose and treat sleep apnea.
Risk for obstructive sleep apnea is increased if you:
- Are overweight
- Are male
- Are African American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander
- Are a smoker
- Have allergies
- Have enlarged tonsils or adenoids
A major symptom of sleep apnea is exhaustion during the day. If you feel sleep apnea is affecting you, ask your bed partner to watch for the common signs, or record yourself while sleeping. Common signs include choking or gasping in your sleep, snoring, or waking up repeatedly during the night. You may also experience:
- Morning headaches
- Memory or learning problems
- Inability to concentrate
- Irritability or mood swings
- Waking up frequently to use the restroom
- Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
Sleep apnea can be common in children. They generally will be loud snorers, restless sleepers, and have accidents at night.
Snoring or OSA may respond to various treatments:
- Obstructive sleep apnea is most often treated with a device that opens the airway with a small amount of positive pressure. This pressure is delivered via a nasal or face mask worn during sleep. This treatment is called CPAP. It is currently the initial treatment of choice for patients with OSA.
- Removal of the tonsils and adenoids is the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in children
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is surgery for treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. It removes the tonsils and excess soft palate tissue and opens the airway. In addition, the remaining tissue stiffens as it heals, thereby minimizing tissue vibration.
- Nasal surgery may also be performed to help with snoring and sleep apnea including septoplasty and turbinate reduction
- Methods to increase the stiffness of the soft palate without removing tissue such as radiofrequency ablation and thermal treatment can be done to help with snoring
- A custom-fit oral appliance, which repositions the lower jaw forward, may also be considered for certain patients with snoring/ OSA. These are typically custom-made by your dentist
- In some patients, significant weight loss can also improve snoring and OSA.
