Everybody knows somebody who snores and have been kept up at night by the noise. While snoring is an inconvenience (sometimes a rather serious one depending on who is doing the snoring) it is rarely more than this and even more rarely does it pose any kind of health problem. However, there is another kind of problem that affects people while they sleep that is not only very dangerous but can even be fatal.

Sleep apnea is often associated with snoring because it creates a similar sound but in reality the two conditions are quite separate. While snoring is the sound of breathing during sleep, apnea is the sound of the cessation of breathing during sleep, essentially choking. It can be caused in two different ways, either by a blocked airway due to a collapsing soft palate (known as obstructive sleep apnea) or as the result of a malfunction in the respiratory area of the brain (central sleep apnea).

In both cases, the problem usually resolves itself after about twenty to thirty seconds but because this can happen hundreds of times in the same night, it places a great deal of strain n the heart. It is often the underlying cause of stress, lack of concentration and poor performance at school or work. In extreme cases it puts so much strain on the heart that patients can have heart attacks. Sleep apnea sufferers often do not receive the treatment they need, either because they assume it is just snoring or because they have no idea the problem is even occurring. It does after all happen during sleep. London dentists are able to treat sleep apnea with special appliances or refer you to other professionals to treat the problem.

Sleep apnea is often confused with, or passed off as, simply snoring. This is not the case. Snoring is the noise associated with breathing during sleep, whereas sleep apnea is actually the sound of someone choking after having stopped breathing. Incredibly 90 per cent of sufferers from sleep apnea have no idea that they have the condition. Those that know, only know because perhaps a partner, relative or friend has told them so. It can be very serious, and sufferers can stop breathing as much as one hundred times in a single night.

There are two main types of sleep apnea that have different causes. The most common form is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea, also known as OSA, which is caused when the soft tissue in the throat collapses and blocks the airways during sleep. The other type of sleep apnea involves no form of physical blockage but occurs when the brain stops sending messages to the muscles telling them to breathe. This malfunction occurs in the respiratory control centre of the brain and is known as Central Sleep Apnea.

While sleep apnea can affect anybody, of any age at any time, there are some factors which may make it more likely that you may have the condition. Patients who are overweight, over the age of forty and male are all at a significantly greater risk of developing sleep apnea. Other patients who have large tonsils or who suffer from a genetic pre-disposition to the disease are also at risk.

One of the most worrying things about sleep apnea is that it can be the underlying cause of several other conditions such as hypertension and strokes. If the sleep apnea is unknown it can make in very difficult to diagnose these other conditions. Even more worrying Is that sleep apnea can be the cause of heart failure should it place an excessive strain on the body.

Other research into the condition has found that children who suffer fro sleep apnea are far more likely to be underperforming at school and in every day activities.

Dentists can play a very important role in the treatment of sleep apnea. Since many forms of the condition are caused by malfunctioning muscles in the mouth and throat, a dentist may be able to fit an oral appliance that prevents this from occurring. A City of London dentist will be able to talk through with you your symptoms and assess whether an appliance can help you beat your sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a fairly serious sleeping disorder that is caused when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People who suffer from sleep apnea actually stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, as many as hundreds of times a night. Sleep apnea is often confused with snoring which is not the case. Snoring is a noise caused by breathing during sleep but sleep apnea is the actual cessation of breathing that causes choking noises. One of the truly amazing facts about sleep apnea is that over 90 per cent of sufferers have no idea they have the condition. Those that do know only do so because perhaps a partner has told them.

There are two main types of sleep apnea. The most common is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (or OSA) and is caused by a blockage of the airways by the collapsing soft tissue at the back of the throat during sleep. The other type of sleep apnea is Central Sleep Apnea which occurs, not like OSA when the airway is blocked, but when the brain does not send signals to the muscles to breathe because of a malfunction or instability in the respiratory control center.

Sleep apnea can affect anybody, of any age at any time but there are a number of high risk factors. Being male, overweight or over the age of forty all significantly increase the risk of suffering form sleep apnea. Large tonsils or simply a genetic dispositon to the disease are also key factors.

Sleep apnea can be the underlying cause of a number of physiological and psychological conditions. Hypertension and strokes have been attributed to sleep apnea and more worrying for sufferers is the terrifying prospect of heart failure or attack. Less serious but no less worrying is recent research that sleep apnea is often responsible for underperformance of children at school and in everyday activities.

Dentists play a very important role in the treatment of sleep apnea. Although each patient responds to treatment differently, dental appliances such as lower jaw adjusters and other oral devices have been very successful in treating all kinds of sleep apnea. If you suffer from sleep apnea (or think you might) consult a London dentist who will be able to offer advice on how best to treat the disease and see if an oral appliance can work for you.