Snoring is a very common sleep habit affecting millions of Americans each night. In many cases, it is simply the result of a short illness or congestion, an awkward sleeping position or simply how you breathe while at rest!
However, there are a growing number of people who unknowingly suffer with a sleep disorder of which snoring is a symptom that is affecting the quality of their sleep and their daily life: patients with sleep disorders often wake up feeling tired and groggy even after being “asleep” for 8 hours.
Jacksonville dentist Dr. Alexander practices dental sleep medicine and founded The Sleep Therapy Center of North Florida to offer treatment for those suffering from sleep disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dr. Alexander has both experience and training in the diagnosis and treatment of OSA, a sleep disorder that can ultimately be life threatening if left untreated.
OSA can affect anyone, but is most prevalent among men, smokers, people who are overweight and those who have smaller airways and/or a large neck circumference. Patients with OSA briefly stop breathing during their sleep and then abruptly resume breathing with a loud snore, often waking either themselves, their partner- or both! Even if they do not wake during the night due to their snoring, patients awaken in the morning feeling unrested, groggy and may also suffer additional symptoms throughout the day:
- Daytime fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritability and trouble concentrating
- Dry mouth in the morning
OSA threatens overall health and can be the cause of or worsen certain health conditions: high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, heart disease, depression and cognitive impairment. OSA raises the risk of cardiac arrest in those with heart disease and can also be the cause of sudden death.
Dr. Alexander treats OSA and snoring with oral appliance therapy, an alternative to the CPAP. Considered the “gold standard” of treatment for OSA, the CPAP often fails patients due to a lack of consistent compliance: many fail to use it due to lack of comfort or personal embarrassment. Oral appliance therapy has proven to relieve symptoms and reduce health risks because patients find it more comfortable and will use the appliance each night.
Dr. Alexander will custom fit an oral appliance designed to stabilize the lower jaw and tongue, effectively maintaining an open airway for steady breathing and no snoring!
