It's Not Just About Snoring Anymore

Most of us don't think of snoring as something to be overley concerned about.  However, welcome to the 21st century because now we know that frequent loud snoring may be a sign of a much greater problem-sleep apnea.  This is the temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep; maybe even hundreds of times per night.  Essentially, the soft tissue in the rear of your throat collapses and closes during sleep.  Because this can cause prolonged airway blockage to the lungs if left untreated, the results can cause serious problems including headaches, depression, weight gain, high blood pressure, cardio vascular disease, memory loss, impotency and ADHD.  The first recognition of sleep apnea is usually complaining about snoring, dozing off during the day, waking up feeling tired and unrefreshed and gasping for air in the middle of the night.

Traditionally, sleep apnea has been treated with a CPAP device which delivers a low flow of air through a face mask over your mouth and nose.  While effective, these devices are cumbersome and require quite a bit of regular routine maintenance, making travel with them especially difficult.  However, you do have another choice!  Now there is a much more user friendly device for your mouth that works by keeping your airway open.  This allows the free flow of breathing air while asleep, thus maintaining a healthly, quiet airway.

If you suspect a breathing or snoring problem at night, or already have a diagnosis of sleep apnea and may be struggling with CPAP equipment, there are options available to help solve your dilemma.  Contact the dental office of Dr. Emery & Scuro DMD, PC, located in the center of Monroe county, Gates-Chili area, Rochester, NY.