Sleep Testing
Davis, CA
 Sleep apnea is a serious sleeping disorder in which a person’s breathing stops and starts, resulting in snoring during the night and lethargy during the day.
According to a research study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, almost 936 million people between the ages of 30 to 69 have been diagnosed with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea. With such a high number of people suffering from sleep apnea, it makes it mandatory for us to understand this perilous sleep disorder and take measures to effectively diagnose and treat it.
There are 3 main types of sleep apnea:
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea – This is the most common type of sleep apnea, and it occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the air passage.
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Central Sleep Apnea – This occurs when the brain is unable to send signals to the muscles that are involved in breathing.
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Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome- When a patient suffers from both obstructive sleep apnea as well as central sleep apnea, they are said to have complex sleep apnea syndrome. |
The main problem with the diagnosis of sleep apnea is that the patients are unable to detect their symptoms as they are fast asleep. Only patients who share their beds or bedrooms with others are aware of their symptoms like snoring and irregular breathing because their partners or roommates will tell them about it.
For proper diagnosis of sleep apnea, several evaluation tests are available that include an overnight stay at a sleep center for the purpose of monitoring the patient’s sleep patterns, as well as sleep apnea self-assessments that can be conducted at home.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
The first method to diagnose sleep apnea is through nocturnal polysomnography. This is performed at a sleep center under the observation of a sleep disorder specialist. The patient is connected to equipment that monitors his or her heart rate, breathing rate, brain activity, blood oxygen levels, and leg and arm movements. All of these functions are monitored closely to diagnose if the person really does suffer from sleep apnea and, if yes, then the stage, or severity, of the disorder.
The second method to diagnose sleep apnea is through self-assessment tests that can be done at home. The home-based testing involves the usage of a simplified sleep monitor that measures your heart rate, breathing patterns, blood oxygen level, and airflow in the air passages. The results of this sleep monitor will indicate whether or not you are suffering from sleep apnea.
However, it is to be kept in mind that these simple and portable sleep monitors are not 100% accurate and cannot deliver the same results as the in-depth ones obtained from nocturnal polysomnography. This is why even if the initial results come back as normal, but people continue to complain about your snoring, gasping, and limb jerking, your doctor will recommend that you spend the night at the sleep center for an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea
There are several different treatment methods that are used to treat sleep apnea and help patients get a good night’s sleep.
These treatment methods include the usage of oral appliances like night mouth guards, mandibular advancement devices (MAD), and tongue retainers that keep the throat open and allow air to pass through the passageways. Depending on the severity of your obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor will recommend the best oral appliance for your condition. With regular usage, you will notice improved results in the symptoms of your sleep apnea.
Other treatments for sleep apnea include:
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Surgeries (jaw repositioning, tissue removal, tracheostomy)
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Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy
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Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy
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Treatment for other related breathing problems |
If you are suffering from sleep apnea and are unable to get a good night’s rest, then visit us at Davis Dental Practice and seek treatment for your sleep apnea today. You can give us a call at (530) 756-5300 to schedule your appointment.
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