Prevalence of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most undiagnosed, untreated serious medical disorder in our country. An estimated 22 million Americans are living with sleep apnea (around 18% of the adult population). Men are twice as likely as women to have sleep apnea. Children as young as two years old can suffer from this condition. As we age, the rate of sleep apnea increases significantly.

As many as 75-80% of these cases are undiagnosed.

Signs you may be suffering from a sleep disorder:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Snoring (bed partner may report this)
• Stop breathing at night/gasping for air
• Restless sleep/insomnia
• Morning headaches
• Dry mouth/scalloped tongue
• High blood pressure
• Large neck circumference
• Impaired memory/concentration/attention
• Irritability/hyperactivity
• Frequent nighttime bathroom visits/bedwetting in children

Treatment Options:

CPAP is considered the “gold standard” for treating severe sleep apnea and can be a very effective form of treatment when used correctly and consistently. However, many patients have difficulty using CPAP:

• It can be uncomfortable and bulky to wear.
• People who tend to feel claustrophobic may not be able to tolerate wearing this on their face.
• Bed partners complain about the sound of the machine.
• Many patients report they cannot stand wearing the mask and remove it in their sleep. They wake up gasping for breath to find the mask on their floor.

Oral Appliance – Very Effective at Treating Mild to Moderate Sleep Apnea:

• Appliance is small and easily portable. It allows people to travel with ease, not having to pack up and deal with a large machine.
• Appliance does not make any noise.
• No electricity is needed, as there is nothing to plug in.
• Nothing goes over the nose or across the face.
• Patients report appliance is comfortable to wear.
• Bed partner is not bothered by appliance but gets to enjoy sleeping without the sound of snoring.

Sleep apnea cannot be cured by using a CPAP or oral appliance; however, some patients can reduce the severity of their symptoms or rid themselves of this condition by:

• Weight loss.
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular physical exercise.
• Avoiding alcohol and smoking.
• Sleeping on your side instead of back.
• Surgery to remove excess tissue from the palate or throat.

We are committed to helping our patients sleep better, feel better and live longer! We pledge to use our knowledge and resources to bring awareness and solutions to our sleep patients. This can be life changing for them!