Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Untreated OSA Causes Health Problems

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Many patients who suffer from OSA leave their condition untreated which is a dangerous choice.OSA stands for obstructive sleep apnea and sufferers stop breathing many times each night because their airways collapse and they stop breathing during sleep. Signs of OSA include excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring and gasping during sleep. It has been estimated that almost 90% of people who suffer from this disease have not been diagnosed.

Researchers in India found that OSA patients were three times more likely to suffer from obesity, hypertension, diabetes and a condition called hyperlipidemia. People who hae hyperlipidemia have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The results of the study strongly suggest that sleep disordered breathing such as OSA is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome.

Weight loss has been shown to lessen the severity of OSA but we all know how difficult it is and how long it takes. When OSA is diagnosed the first therapy offered to patients is typically CPAP. Many patients find sleeping with the device difficult and abandon the machine and treatment of their OSA.

A highly effective treatment that is not as well known is oral appliance therapy from a dentist who is specially trained in Dental Sleep Medicine. An oral appliance is a small mouthpiece worn during sleep that allows the airway to remain open. Oral appliances reduce or eliminate snoring and apnea events allowing a full night of restful sleep.

To schedule your consultation to see if oral appliance therapy is right for you please contact Dr. Kenneth Mogell at 561-394-9000 today. Your health depends on getting a good night's sleep.

Labels: obstructive sleep apnea