Obstructive sleep apnea is an episodic obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. It affects up to 7% of men and 5% of women, occurs in all ages and becomes more frequent with age.
These obstructions result in:
In children, sleep apnea has been linked to:
Because it reduces oxygen levels in the blood, people suffering from sleep apnea can experience morning headaches, night sweats and abnormal rhythms. Chronic sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and sudden death.
Risk factors include:
Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a thorough medical history, a physical exam and a sleep study (polysomnogram). Treatment can include weight loss, noninvasive devices such as oral appliances and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines and surgery.
Surgical procedures performed at SWIENT include:
Our surgeons have great working relationships with the diagnostic sleep specialists, dentists and oral surgeons in the community. We coordinate care with them in order to optimize treatment.
To learn more about sleep apnea and treatment options, contact SWIENT.