Sleep Apnea: More Than Just Snoring

On the mic

Dr. Potts recently joined Greg Bishop on News/Talk 94.7 & 970 WMAY to talk about oral sleep apnea appliances.

If you missed it, we’ve got the interview right here for you.

Listen up

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) condition is the chronic blockage of the air passage during your sleep cycle. Most often, this happens when the muscles in the back of your throat or mouth relax, allowing your tongue to obstruct your airway, cutting off oxygen to your lungs and brain.

After an OSA episode, breathing usually resumes with a loud gasp, snort or body jerk. Often patients aren’t aware this is happening—though if they’re spending time in bed with a significant other, their partner probably is.

Sleep apnea doesn’t sound like the most exciting topic for a radio show to tackle, so what’s up with the interview?

Greg Bishop knows that by talking Sleep apnea, he’s saving lives.

One in five Americans has mild OSA, while the diagnosis in another one in five is moderate to severe OSA.

A grand total of 75 million Americans lives every night with sleep apnea. And, those are just the ones who know. It’s estimated that 80-90 percent of breathing disorders remain undiagnosed.

In the best-case scenarios, patients find themselves fatigued throughout the day. Worst case, they suffer Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and find themselves in dangerous situations. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to heart attack, stroke, diabetes and other serious health conditions—including suffocation.

Check, check. One, two.

Warning signs of sleep apnea in adults

• *  Snoring
• *  Waking up suddenly and feeling like you’re gasping or choking
• *  Drowsiness or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
• *  Dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up
• *  Headaches in the morning
• *  Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, depression, or irritability
• *  Trouble waking up in the mornings
• *  Sweating a lot at night
• *  Restlessness during sleep

Symptoms in adolescents may not be as obvious. In addition to the symptoms listed above, keep an eye out for:

• *  Unusual sleeping positions, such as sleeping on the hands and knees, or with their neck hyperextended,
• *  Bed wetting,
• *  Choking or drooling, or
• *  Rib cage moves inward when they’re exhaling.

Left untreated sleep apnea can be deadly.

What’s Potts gonna do

If you have OSA, Dr. Potts’ll fit you with a mandibular advancement device (MAD). Nope, not a medieval torture device. The MAD opens your airway by moving your lower jaw (known in doctor speak as the mandible) forward. As your jaw moves forward, the collapsible part of your airway kept open.

If you suspect you—or someone you love—has OSA, let’s talk immediately.

Dr. Potts is a gentle, caring dentist who uses the most advanced materials and procedures available. He practices comfortable, health-centered dentistry, with a strong emphasis on getting to know each patient. In addition to his technical proficiency, Dr. Potts is a careful listener. He makes sure to understand what you want and will explain beforehand what treatment is best for your individual needs, along with all options available to you.