Today is Sleep Apnea
Awareness Day, and while it may not be the most celebratory of holidays, it is
an important reminder of the potentially fatal health risks faced by the nearly
20 million Americans thought to suffer from obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA).
Sleep Apnea Awareness
Day is a multi-organizational effort intended to raise awareness about the dangers of sleep apnea
as well as inform people about the increasing availability of sleep apnea
diagnosis and treatment. Many people ignore snoring and other symptoms of sleep
apnea because they either do not associate these symptoms with a
life-threatening condition or they believe the only treatment for sleep apnea
is the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices.
Sleep apnea,
particularly OSA, has been linked to a heightened risk for severe health
problems including hypertension, heart attack and stroke. While CPAP treatment,
which requires patients to wear a mask attached to a device that circulates
oxygen to help maintain an open airway, is effective when used regularly over
an extended period of time, many patients find the units cumbersome and
uncomfortable, and discontinue its use.
The field of dental sleep
medicine, however, offers a number of effective and comfortable
alternatives to CPAP. Many patients find success in managing their sleep apnea
with the use of custom-made oral appliances similar to sports mouthguards.