Causes and Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea

What is Sleep Apnea?

There are three types of Sleep Apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), caused by airway obstruction; Central Sleep Apnea, which is a neurological condition; and Mixed Sleep Apnea, a combination of the two. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common of the three.

What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring?

OSA is caused by structures in the mouth and/or throat creating a breathing obstruction. In many cases, a patient’s lower jaw slides back a bit during sleep. When this happens, the tongue or soft tissues of the mouth can block free airflow. Snoring occurs when tissue in the mouth or throat vibrates during sleep. While most sleep apnea sufferers snore, not all snorers have sleep apnea.

Other factors that contribute to obstructive sleep apnea include being overweight, large tonsils and/or adenoids, deviated septum, receding chin, large tongue, congestion, alcohol consumption, medications, heredity, and age.

How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

Thomas Corwin DDS, FAGD, D. ABDSM works with respected sleep study labs and sleep medicine physicians who diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. You may need to stay overnight at a sleep lab for proper diagnosis. Our team will happily help you arrange appointments, and we will assist you to make the process convenient and easy.

Why is Sleep Apnea a Serious Problem?

Sleep apnea causes sleep and oxygen deprivation. Both you and your sleeping partner can suffer from sleep deprivation if you snore or wake suddenly at night. Sufferers of untreated sleep apnea have a significantly higher mortality rate than non-sufferers. Sleep apnea has been linked to a variety of serious health issues including: