Boston Sleep Apnea

Do you snore? Are you inexplicably fatigued during your waking hours? Do you sometimes wake up gasping? If you have any of these symptoms, you may have a condition known as sleep apnea. It is not uncommon for a patient to be unaware they have any symptoms. Sometimes the only one cognizant of your sleep disorder is your partner. It would be helpful to ask your partner if they recognize any of these symptoms in your sleep pattern.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

There are varying levels of sleep apnea. During sleep, your tongue relaxes as does the rest of your body. Snoring results when your tongue begins to encroach on your breathing passage. If your tongue completely impinges your breathing passage, it becomes obstructed. The breathing obstruction can then wake you up briefly. The result is a vicious wake-sleep cycle that destroys your ability to get restful sleep, leading to fatigue and other health problems. You may not even realize it is taking place. Some patients in a sleep study were surprised to discover their breathing was interrupted hundreds of times in just one night. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to more than constant fatigue. You may also experience weight gain, high blood pressure, or abnormal heart rhythms.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Fortunately, it is a very treatable condition. The types of treatment vary from patient to patient. Which treatment option we use will depend on the severity of your case. We believe in taking the most conservative approach to treatment available and have found most of our patients’ apnea problems were solved simply by wearing a mandibular advancement appliance. This simple device looks a little like a sports mouth-guard and fits comfortably in your mouth. If this works, most patients prefer it by far to the bulky and uncomfortable CPAP. Dr. Bader will fit the oral appliance to your specific bite in order to gently re-position your jaw to clear your breathing passage. This could be all you need to be able to sleep peacefully and snore-free.

If you are ready to get a great night’s sleep you may call our office to schedule an appointment, or if you prefer, you may click here to request an appointment online.