Do you snore loudly and wake up feeling tired, despite a full night’s sleep? Then you could have sleep apnea, a severe sleeping disorder impacting millions of adults. At Oasis Smiles in beautiful Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, CA Dr. Sasha Bhor can counsel you on safe, effective non-surgical and surgical procedures that can eliminate this life-threatening disorder.
Sleep apnea occurs when biomechanical or neurological issues disrupt your regular breathing patterns. If left untreated, it can produce dangerous complications like stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
There are three major types of sleep apnea:
Although loud snoring is often a symptom, not all people who snore have sleep apnea. However, if one or more of these symptoms accompany your snoring, you should be evaluated as soon as possible:
After performing an exam, Dr. Bhor might recommend further testing at a sleep disorder center.
During an overnight stay, a sleep specialist monitors your blood oxygen levels, brain activity, breathing patterns, and the performance of your heart and lungs.
If central sleep apnea is the issue, Dr. Bhor will refer you to a neurologist for more testing and evaluation. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, she has several non-surgical therapies available:
If those approaches don’t resolve the problem, there are several surgical alternatives.
This surgery extracts the vibrating throat structures that cause snoring and block airflow. Known medically as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, it requires hospitalization and general anesthesia.
By surgically moving the jaw forward, this procedure increases the space between your tongue and soft palate, making breathing easier during sleep.
If all other surgical options fail, a surgeon can implant a plastic tube in your throat, creating a new air passage. It's reserved for the most severe cases of sleep apnea.
If snoring, sleep loss, and other symptoms are impacting your life, schedule an evaluation at Oasis Smiles today. Deeply experienced in treating patients with sleep apnea, Dr. Bhor can recommend strategies for identifying and treating this life-threatening disorder.
