Those that suffer an increased risk of suffering from Sleep Apnoea are males who are moderately to severely overweight, and those over the age of 40. But almost anyone can suffer; even petite women and children. This potentially life threatening disease is a lot more common than generally expected and should be taken very seriously.
Repetitive airway collapse can lead to large pressure fluctuations in the lungs and oxygen deficiency which places stress on the heart and cardiovascular system. Consequently in people with OSA, the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular mortality is increased as is diabetes. Therefore it’s imperative that once diagnosed with OSA you are adequately treated.
The strains on a person’s body from arousing over and over due to lack of oxygen, as much as 500 times a night; inhibit them from getting the refreshing sleep they need. Not only is OSA a major, often unrecognized, cause of daytime sleepiness, it can also be an associated risk factor for very serious medical conditions:
Because Sleep apnoea occurs at night while you should be sleeping deeply, diagnosis isn’t as easy as a quick visit to your local GP.
There are a couple of options where to have a sleep study. The gold standard is the in-lab hospital sleep study where your sleep will need to be monitored by a trained professional who will also use a series of highly specialised instruments to monitor your body through a night’s sleep. But for those patients who struggle to sleep in strange surroundings, there is a range of in home sleep study options.
In the comfort of your own home, the home sleep study monitors you while you sleep in your natural surroundings. You’ll be monitored through the night with specialised sleep therapy equipment in the comfort of your home and bed.
It is imperative that you have a sleep study prior to being fitted with any sort of treatment for sleep disordered breathing. Even if you think you just snore, it is possible that you have some level of OSA and may need to see a specialist. Healthcare funds recognise this and will not give any rebate for any treatment of sleep disordered breathing snoring or OSA unless the patient has had a full sleep study which has been analysed by a Sleep Physician.
You will first need to schedule a professional sleep study to properly and legally diagnose your condition as Snoring or Sleep apnoea. You can choose to perform your study in a hospital situation with all the latest technology. But not everyone is suited to undergo a hospital based sleep evaluation and so may elect to schedule an in-home evaluation.
If you or a loved one snores, the problem can be more than just a social embarrassment. Historically those who were afflicted with the condition were left to live out their restless lives without a treatment solution. There are many non-surgical alternatives to traditional snoring and Sleep apnoea therapies. Sleep disorders, if left untreated, can result in a host of serious negative side effects to your overall health and mental well-being.
For those who suffer with Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep apnoea, or in more Severe cases where CPAP is not tolerated an oral device such SomnoDent may be suitable. SomnoDent is a clinically proven and effective device for treating Obstructive Sleep apnoea and Snoring. This device is worn while you sleep and works to open your airway by bringing the lower jaw and effectively the base of your tongue forward away from the soft palate stopping the upper airway from collapsing during sleep, keeping the airway open reduces or eliminates the snoring and apnoea events.
When considering this form of treatment, it is very important to get a consultation and be fitted by an accredited dental professional with advanced training in treating sleep related breathing disorders with oral devices.
Comfort and the ability for the device to stay in place are critical to treatment success. Clinical research has proven that custom made adjustable are much more effective than a one size fits all device that can be purchased online or over the counter. You will be wearing your oral device every night for a long time. It is an investment in your health, you want it to be effective and comfortable, so you get a restful night’s sleep.
When you purchase an oral device treatment plan, the cost will include all the consultations to fit and possibly adjust the device to help secure a better fit and ensure its working properly. It is also important to return for regular 6 monthly visits to prevent any dental problems from occur occurring over time.
These devices are covered by health insurance under item number #984. There are also numerous other item numbers involved in the treatment plan to fit an oral device for obstructive sleep apnoea so ask your dentist to give you an idea of costs and the item numbers involved so you can find out what you will be reimbursed from your fund.
If you think you or a loved one currently suffers from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea or any other sleep condition and would like to receive snoring treatments at our clinic, please call us immediately at (02) 4381 1888 or use the form to contact us.
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For any general enquiries, feel free to get in touch with us using the below contact form. Alternatively, you can contact us on (02) 4381 1888. For after hour emergencies, please contact 0448 039 876.
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