Snoring and Sleep Apnea

The Dangers of Snoring

It is estimated that more than 90 million North Americans snore.' Taking into account the snorer's spouse and children, as many as 160 million people are negatively affected by snoring. And snoring doesn't merely interrupt your sleep cycle. The struggle for breath can result in soaring blood pressure, which can damage the walls of the carotid arteries and increase the risk of stroke." At certain levels of severity, complete blockage of the airway space by the soft tissues and the tongue can occur. If this period of asphyxiation lasts longer than 10 seconds, it is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a medical condition with serious long-term effects.'

Complaints
• Gasping, irregular or stopped breathing during sleep
• Falling asleep or chronic fatigue
• Headaches, poor memory or mental performance
• Nighttime reflux, GERD
• Nocturia (nighttime urination)

Health Risks associated with snoring
• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Dementia / Memory Problems/Depression

What causes snoring?
During sleep, muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax, shrinking the airway. This increases the velocity of airflow during breathing. As the velocity of required air is increased, soft tissues like the soft palate and uvula vibrate. The vibrations of these tissues result in "noisy breathing" or snoring. 4
Surgical techniques used to remove respiration- impairing structures have shown only moderate success rates (20 to 40 percent)," For the majority of snorers, however, the most affordable, noninvasive, comfortable and effective snoring solution remains a dentist-prescribed snore prevention device.

How can I prevent snoring?
A custom-fabricated dental device that moves the lower jaw into a forward position, increasing space in the airway tube and reducing air velocity and soft tissue vibration can help prevent snoring.

References
1. Young T, Palta M, Dempsey], et al. The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults. N Engl J Med. 1993,328(17),1230-5.
2. Friedlander AH, Yueh R, Littner MR. The prevalence of calcified carotid artery atheromas in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 1998;56(8):950-4.
3. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. International Classification of Sleep Disorders (JCSD), Rochester, Minn., 1990.
4. lsono S, Remmers J. Anatomy and physiology of upper airway obstruction. Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement W'C, eds. Principles and Practice oj Sleep Medicine, 2nd ed. WB Saunders and Co. 1994:642-56.
5. Kopp HP. Snore Device Specifications. ERKODENT Erich Kopp GmbH, Siemen-strassa 3, D-72285 Pfalzgrafenweiler, Germany.