Sleep Apnea Treatment in Bluffton & Hilton Head Island:

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea Treatment: Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder described as your body choking on itself, causing repeated episodes of partial or complete suffocation. These episodes can sometimes last an entire minute or more. Pauses in breathing is called apnea. The pauses can last from a few seconds to a few moments. During these pauses, the body is deprived of oxygen and can cause or exacerbate a myriad of other dangerous medical conditions including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

The Three Types of Sleep Apnea : Hilton Head Island Sleep Apnea Treatment

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) found in 84% of cases, is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the soft tissue in the back of your throat relaxes during sleep, causing a blockage of the airway and snoring.
• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) found in 0.4% of cases, is a much less common type of sleep apnea that involves the central nervous system, rather than an airway obstruction. CSA occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. People with central sleep apnea seldom snore.
• Complex Sleep Apnea found in 15% of cases, is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

The gaps in breathing occur between 5 to over 100 times per hour depending on the severity of the condition and typically last between 20 and 40 seconds. In some cases, breathing can even stop for up to two or more minutes. During each lapse in breathing, oxygen levels in the blood drop.

When the brain registers the lack of oxygen in the body, it jolts the body to wake up. This reopens the airway but also interrupts sleep. A gasp or choking sound can often be heard as breathing resumes. The person will typically fall back asleep with no memory of being woken up which makes sleep apnea hard to recognize. The condition is typically identified by spouses or family members who notice heavy snoring and pauses in breathing Sleep Apnea Treatment.

The most common form of sleep apnea is Obstuctive Sleep Apnea (OSA). When you sleep, the soft tissue and muscles in your mouth and throat relax, causing your airway to become smaller. Sleep apnea occurs when the airway completely collapses and blocks airflow into the lungs. This can occur frequently throughout the night and for long periods of time.

Schedule an appointment today by calling our office (843) 815.7844 and ask about Oral Appliances for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea that are safe, effective and easy to use. Dr. Langehans and the team at Lowcountry Sleep & Wellness are recognized experts on providing Oral Appliance alternatives to CPAP.  Sleep Apnea Treatment Oral Appliances are effective and can help save lives.

Disclaimer: Content on this site is to be viewed as educational only. In no way should content be construed as medical advice. Only a medical physician can diagnose sleep apnea.

Off-Island Dental Care
1 Sherington Dr # H, Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 815-7844

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