Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Heart Disease Risk May Be Reduced By Sleep Apnea Treatment

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Research had previously shown that people with obstructive sleep apnea have greater activity in the nerves related to stress response -- this can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. The increase was found to be due to a change in brain stem function caused by sleep apnea.

A small study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that treating obstructive sleep apnea reduced the nerve activity by restoring the brain stem to normal function. In theory, this should reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure or heart disease. The study only included 13 patients who were treated using CPAP.

While CPAP is the gold standard for treating obstructive sleep apnea, about half of patients cannot tolerate sleeping with the masks and hoses. Most of these patients leave their sleep apnea untreated which can lead to severe health problems.

Oral appliance therapy is a proven method of treating obstructive sleep apnea without the masks and hoses. The oral appliance is only worn during sleep. Oral appliances, also called mandibular advancement devices, work by gently placing the lower jaw in a forward position during sleep which keeps the airway open throughout the night. No more collapsed airway means no more snoring and stoppages of breath.

Find out more about obstructive sleep apnea and your treatment options by contacting the only Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine located in Palm Beach County, Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell. Our office can be reached at 561-394-9000.

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