Submitted by Koala Center for Sleep Disorders
Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is a sleep disorder that, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) affects approximately 18 million adults in America alone. OSA occurs when a person stops breathing during sleep due to obstruction of the airway, which takes place when the tongue and muscles relax during sleep, the lower jaw falls back toward the throat, or the airway becomes blocked. People with untreated sleep apnea may stop breathing hundreds of times a night without realizing it. Sleep is generally interrupted and fitful; understandably, those suffering from OSA frequently experience insomnia, fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and weight gain.
When we think of the typical sleep apnea patient, we might picture a middle-aged, overweight man with an enlarged neck. However, the notion that this “typical” patient is the norm often leads to misdiagnosis in “atypical” patients with OSA. The American Sleep Apnea Association cautions that when OSA is left untreated, it can have life-threatening consequences and can lead to serious conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, automobile accidents, and so forth. While there are groups that are at higher risk for sleep apnea, the truth is that it can develop in persons of all ages, sexes, and body types. As such, we must be aware of the different presentations of sleep apnea, the various causes, and the subsequent treatment options.
Sleep disordered breathing in children
Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea often look different on children than adults. That’s why it is important to keep a close watch on your child if you suspect signs of OSA. For example, while obesity is generally found to be a risk factor for OSA in teens and adults, this is not always the case for children. Also, the excessive snoring and jolting awake during sleep may be less common or at least less noticeable in children.
One thing that a concerned parent can do is watch their child to see if they are a mouth or nose breather. Observe them while sleeping. Is the mouth wide open? According to Dr. Rod Willey, founder of the Koala Center for Sleep Disorders, mouth breathing can lead to long-term problems. “When a child breathes through the mouth, the tongue stays at the base of the mouth. As a result, the upper arch stays really narrow and high. If there is a narrow upper arch, the lower jaw can’t come forward,” says Dr. Willey. This reduces air space at the back of the throat and can lead to sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Symptoms of SDB include snoring, long-term mouth breathing, ADHD, bedwetting, chronic allergies, and crowded teeth. It can also be a precursor of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
If the sleep-related breathing problems are due to mouth breathing, a narrow upper arch or reduced air space at the back of the throat, doctors like those at the Koala Center for Sleep Disorders in Peoria, Illinois can help by fitting your child with a HealthyStart appliance. The appliance helps to develop the airway and hold it open during sleep. Additionally, it will encourage proper jaw development as the child grows.
Sometimes, diagnosed OSA in children is caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids. According to the NSF, in these cases, surgical removal of the tonsils or adenoids may be necessary to relieve symptoms.
Sleep apnea as we age
Just as sleep-related breathing problems can be difficult to spot in children, they can also be underdiagnosed in the elderly. There are a number of reasons it can be difficult to pinpoint sleep apnea in older adults. A study published by the American Thoracic Society found that “sleep-related difficulties” were often described subjectively by older adults as difficulty falling asleep, the number and duration of night-time awakenings, and the amount of overall sleep. The causes of these subjective complaints can be tough to pinpoint. For example, older adults may have more medical conditions or be on medications that disrupt their sleep, or they may have more pain when they are lying in bed. They may also need to wake up to urinate more frequently. Additionally, many older adults are widows or widowers or sleep in separate bedrooms. As a result, it is less likely that a partner will notice and report the signs of sleep apnea.
It is important that family members and physicians pay attention to the often-subjective sleep-related complaints of this older demographic and seek out more specific information. In an article published in Trends in Molecular Medicine, suggest that by treating and stopping OSA progression, we not only improve the lives of patients but also can delay health issues related to aging. These same researchers suggests there is emerging evidence linking untreated OSA to age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson disease, dementia, and type 2 diabetes.
Meeting the needs of each patient
Diagnosing and treating sleep disorders such as OSA requires us to be on the lookout for the various signs of problems in every age group, not just the “typical” patient. We have to move beyond the model of the overweight, middle-aged male. If you are concerned that you or a family member might suffer from OSA or sleep disordered breathing, consider asking your doctor for a sleep study. If you are diagnosed, there are a number of treatment options available, including lifestyle changes, surgery, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), and Oral Appliance Therapy.
While CPAP is the most frequently prescribed treatment for OSA, many patients find the equipment bulky and uncomfortable as well as inconvenient. At the Koala Center for Sleep Disorders in Peoria, Illinois, doctors are using Oral Appliance Therapy to treat OSA in adults. The appliance works to hold the jaw in a position that allows the airway to remain as open and firm as possible during sleep, thus preventing snoring and interruptions in sleep. The appliance is similar to an athletic mouth guard but is less bulky. In addition, doctors are able to fit children who have sleep-related breathing problems such as mouth-breathing or a high upper arch with the HealthyStart appliance system.
For more information on these options, contact the Koala Center for Sleep Disorders in Peoria, IL at 309-243-8980 or www.peoriasleep.com. Dr. Willey provides treatment for snoring, sleep apnea, and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) with comfortable oral appliances.