Sleep Apnea & Dental Treatment
Center of Scottsdale

McDOWELL MOUNTAIN MEDICAL CENTER
9377 E. Bell Road
Suite 107
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
480-419-1400

Dr. T. R. "Rick" Lawson, DDS
Diplomate American Academy of  Dental Sleep Medicine

Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Treatment and Therapy

Snoring affects approximately 44% of men and 30% of women

Unfortunately, snoring is a problem many bed partners wish they never had to contend with.  The snoring sound is a result of increased upper airway resistance that is caused by the narrowing of the airway passage between the free edge of the soft palate and the back of the tongue.  The free edge of the soft palate will vibrate as the air passes over it causing the snoring sound.  Snoring can be an early warning sign for the dangerous medical condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

A person with Obstructive Sleep Apnea actually stops breathing while asleep.

This can occur with various frequencies ranging from just a few times to over 100 times per hour.  What usually happens is that the tongue falls onto the airway creating a physical obstruction.  Of course, when you don't breathe, the oxygen level in your blood is reduced.  This is one of the many dangerous aspects of sleep apnea.  Once the airway is closed off, the harder a person tries to breathe, the tighter the airway becomes sealed.  When the oxygen level gets too low, the classic gasping sound and deep breath occurs as the person violently throws the tongue off of the airway in order to breathe.  Of course, reduced oxygen levels can cause serious medical problems.  What are normal body oxygen levels?  How far can they drop for a person with sleep apnea?  During normal breathing, one's oxygen levels can range in the 97-100% range.  Few people can intentionally hold their breath until they get down to a 93% blood oxygen level.  Yet, while asleep, some individuals blood oxygen levels can drop to as low as 40%.  Many people with apnea routinely have a low blood oxygen level in the 60-80% range.  Oxygen levels in this range can precipitate heart attacks, strokes, and other serious medical problems.

There are two types of sleep apnea.

One is obstructive Sleep Apnea, the most common form.  This type of apnea is characterized by having a physical obstruction of the iarway, but the individual is still trying to breathe.  Once the airway is open, one's breathing continues.  The other type of sleep apnea is Central Sleep Apnea.  In this condition the brain fails to send the signal to breathe.  Once the oxygen level drops far enough, ther person's body stimulates the breathing process.  Some individuals can also have what are called mixed apneas.  Mixed apneas have both obstructive and central sleep apnea events.

If an individual is consistently gasping for breath and having a reduced oxygen level in thier body, it is easy to see why a restful night of sleep is out of the question.  Also, when you stop breathing, your pulse rate increases.  A higher pulse rate means that your heart is beating faster and working harder.  This is fine if you are exercising, but not when you are trying to sleep.  Frequent choking and an elevated heart rate are not the most conducive elements for a restful nights sleep.

Some of the most common signs of sleep apnea are heavy snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, nighttime choking or gasping, morning headaches and nighttime acid reflux.  Studies have shown that approximately 30% of individuals with high blood pressure have sleep apnea, and 50% of individuals with sleep apnea have high blood pressure.  Other studies have shown that approximately 25% of individuals that have had heart attacks have obstructive sleep apnea and there is strong evidence that heavy snoring and apnea can cause persistent hypertension, memory deficits, decreased sexual functioning, difficulty concentrating and personality changes.