Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Plano, TX
The Most Common Form of Sleep Apnea
The inability to breathe while you sleep can be a frightening thought for anyone. A sudden jolt and gasp for air is the unfortunate reality for many people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – millions in fact. At Star Sleep & Wellness in Plano, our team of sleep physicians are here to offer life-changing solutions that are designed to improve breathing, allow for more sleep, and enhance patients’ quality of life. Using advanced technologies and techniques to identify the underlying cause, we invite you to contact our office to schedule an appointment to learn more about obstructive sleep apnea in Plano and what we can do to help you take back your sleep.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Causes
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by an obstruction in the airway that typically occurs when soft tissues inside the mouth collapse onto the throat. Air cannot adequately flow, resulting in ceased breathing, which tends to last for 10 seconds or more. This can happen once or hundreds of times each night, often resulting in a person waking suddenly and gasping for air.
Other potential risk factors that can cause OSA include:
- Diabetes
- A narrow nasal passage
- An enlarged uvula
- Missing teeth
- Genetics
- An enlarged tongue
- A recessed lower jaw
- Genetic disorders such as Down syndrome
- Enlarged tonsils
- Being overweight or obese
- Fat accumulations around the neck
- A deviated septum
- Sleeping on your back
What Potential Complications Can Occur with Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
When living with obstructive sleep apnea, you may wonder if certain complications can arise. There are, such as:
- Heart disease
- Chronic fatigue
- Frequent headaches
- Risk of drowsy driving
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack or stroke
- Weight gain that leads to being overweight or obese
- Moodiness
- Poor work performance
- Diabetes
Should I See a Doctor About Obstructive Sleep Apnea? If So, When?
If you begin to notice that you are developing symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea, or if you’re concerned that you exhibit any of the risk factors that cause OSA, you should go ahead and schedule an appointment with a member of our team. Chronic, loud snoring, extreme fatigue, obesity, and the inability to breathe freely are all serious issues that cannot wait to be treated. The sooner you see us for treatment, the better off you will be in the long run when it comes to your overall health and well-being.
After conducting a thorough examination, we will determine if you should undergo a sleep study either in-house or at home. Depending on the state of your overall health, we’ll help you choose which one is right for you.
Types of Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
When it comes to treating obstructive sleep apnea, it’s important that our team at Star Sleep & Wellness in Plano have several options available to tailor treatment plans to your needs. We know that no two patients are the same, so having an array of options is most beneficial.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Quickly becoming one of the most popular methods of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is oral appliance therapy. Using a custom-made oral device that is worn at night, patients will notice their jaws shifting slightly forward, allowing the airway to remain unobstructed. This will not allow the soft tissues to collapse, ensuring a positive breathing and sleeping experience at night.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system is the most widely known and common method of sleep apnea treatment. Capable of pushing air into the airway so that it doesn’t become obstructed, it is effective. However, many patients struggle with CPAP machines simply because they are hard to maneuver and bulky, making them difficult to travel with should you need to go out of town.
Combination Therapy
There are instances when our team might find it useful to combine both CPAP and oral appliance therapies. By having you wear an oral device at night as well as a CPAP machine, it can combine to make for a more peaceful night’s rest, especially since the CPAP device is usually turned off of the highest setting, so it’s not as noisy.
Health & Wellness Coaching
Certain problems can result in OSA, which is why it’s important that we offer expansive services that are designed to address those issues. This is why we have health and wellness coaching. Whether you’re struggling with weight gain, poor diet, anxiety, depression, or you’re taking certain medications that make it difficult to sleep, our team of specialized sleep doctors as well as a licensed psychologist and nurse practitioner can better assist in helping you to work through these issues and achieve better rest.
Surgery
The potential for sleep apnea surgery is extremely rare, hence why we only offer non-surgical solutions. However, if all other treatment options have been tried and are unsuccessful, we may need to recommend surgical intervention. These can include the removal of your tonsils or adenoids, or you may need surgery to reconstruct portions of your airway.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea FAQs
How long do obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) events or episodes last?
Each person’s sleep patterns are different, so only a formal sleep study can determine exactly the duration and frequency of your apnea episodes. On average, though, they can last 10 seconds to two minutes and can occur anywhere from 5-30 times each hour. A mild case of sleep apnea is considered 0-15 events each hour, while a severe case is considered 30 times or more.
Can I travel with obstructive sleep apnea?
Yes, you can travel even if you have obstructive sleep apnea. Depending on the type of treatment you receive and which type of transportation you take, you may need to make a few adjustments. For example, flying with a CPAP machine may require you to inform the airline about your device, as each company has a different policy. If you wear an oral appliance, you will be able to insert it into your carry-on bag with no issues.
An important note to remember is that when traveling, make sure you stick to your normal sleep routine as much as possible. Staying up too late or sleeping in later than usual can make it difficult to get the rest you need even while wearing your appropriate sleep device.
Can I receive oral appliance therapy if I grind my teeth?
Yes, wearing an oral appliance can help minimize the force caused by teeth grinding. This is one of the many benefits you can expect to enjoy when choosing this type of treatment, as it reduces bruxism so that your tooth enamel does not wear down, and your jaw joints no longer experience excessive pressure or pain.
It is not uncommon for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea in Plano to also struggle with teeth grinding, so making sure that you inform our team about this problem can help when it comes to preparing a treatment plan that is right for you.
Will my sleep apnea go away if I lose weight?
It can certainly help. If you are overweight or obese, losing unwanted pounds can reduce the amount of fat located around your neck so that your airway opens up. Meeting with Katie Collier to discuss a weight loss plan can be a positive first step in helping you get the rest you need while also taking better care of your overall health.
It’s important to undergo a thorough consultation with a sleep dentist to determine if your weight is what is causing your OSA. If so, you should begin to see a noticeable difference as you begin to lose these unwanted pounds.