Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Serving Burke, Fairfax, and Fairfax Station, Virginia
Snoring may seem like a minor nuisance, but if it happens every night it can impact your sleep. Even worse, it can affect the sleep of your spouse or other cosleeper, leading to major tension. More than one relationship has been destroyed by snoring. And if you wake up feeling as tired as when you went to sleep, it may be a sign that you have more than snoring--you may have sleep apnea, a potentially life-threatening condition. Dr. Pamela Marzban can work with you to get relief from your snoring and sleep apnea, saving your relationship and possibly your life.
Causes of Snoring and Sleep Apnea
During the day, gravity and your muscles work to hold your airway open. When you lie down at night, your muscles are working against gravity, and when those muscles relax, your airway will collapse, either partly or completely. When your airway narrows, it creates a turbulent airflow that creates the sound you hear as snoring. When your airway collapses completely, it shuts off the airflow completely, choking you. Your mind must awaken partly to open the airway. This is sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea sufferers are often not aware of waking up due to their condition, although it may happen dozens or even hundreds of times a night. Because of the partial waking, though, a sleep apnea sufferer will not get the rest his body and mind need to maintain health. As a result, sleep apnea sufferers often suffer:
- High blood pressure
- Coronary artery disease
- Increased risk of heart attack
- Loss of mental acuity
- Memory problems
- Inability to focus
- Dangerous levels of daytime sleepiness
One study has suggested that sleep apnea sufferers are six times more likely to die from any cause than non-sufferers. Fortunately there are many treatment options that can successfully alleviate snoring and sleep apnea.
Treatment Options for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
The soft tissues of the airway get support from the jaw. When the jaw is properly positioned, it can reduce constriction and often prevent collapse of the airway at night, which means less snoring and apneic events. For snoring treatment, we can help you right away with an oral appliance that you wear while sleeping to reposition your jaw.
However, if you suspect that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, it is important that you get a positive diagnosis from a sleep center. We can refer you to several in Northern Virginia and the DC-metro area. Once you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the severity of your condition will dictate the best treatment options. For mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliances work very well, and can be tailored to address the specific causes of your sleep apnea, from jaw malposition to tongue displacement. Oral appliances are comfortable, easy to use, and have been clinically proven to successfully treat the condition. For more severe sleep apnea, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is the recommended treatment. This mask and air hose system pumps air into mouth and nose to ensure the airway stays open. Although CPAP is a successful treatment, it is unfortunately uncomfortable for many people, leading to a low compliance rate.
Why See Dr. Marzban for Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment
Dr. Marzban and her caring dental team will listen to your experience with snoring and sleep apnea and work to get you successful treatment as quickly as possible. For simply snoring relief, one visit is often sufficient. Dr. Marzban has several different oral appliances to address all the major causes of sleep apnea. She has worked with a number of local sleep clinics in northern Virginia and throughout the DC metro area, and can make recommendations.
To learn more about snoring and sleep apnea relief with oral appliances, please call or email Dr. Pamela Marzban today to set up your consultation at our Burke, Virginia office.
