Sleep apnea may impact as many as one billion adults worldwide and is more common in men and overweight people. When you have sleep apnea, your airway repeatedly becomes blocked, limiting the air reaching your lungs. The resulting lack of oxygen activates a survival reflex that wakes you up long enough to resume breathing. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the temporary pause in breathing is caused by the tissue in the back of the throat collapsing. The brain doesn’t correctly control breathing in far less common central sleep apnea.
Most people are unaware they’re having problems breathing while they sleep and can’t judge the severity of the problem. Therefore, a spouse or bed partner often detects the problem. In addition to nocturnal symptoms, daytime repercussions of OSA include increased sleepiness, morning headaches, and impaired attention. Obesity is the most common cause of OSA in adults, while a high neck circumference and craniofacial and upper airway anatomical abnormalities can also increase the risk of developing OSA. At Dr. Dan Berant, we offer personalized solutions for sleep apnea in New York, NY that will help you reclaim restful nights and protect your health!
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is the mainstay of OSA treatment, especially in patients with moderate to severe disease. CPAP treatment in adults with OSA significantly decreases disease severity, sleepiness, blood pressure, and the risk of motor vehicle accidents while improving sleep-related quality of life.
The device delivers continuous air via a mask that fits over your nose or nose and mouth to help keep your airway open while you sleep. Although CPAP is an effective sleep apnea treatment, many people find the mask uncomfortable, claustrophobic, and embarrassing. It may be difficult to fall asleep when starting therapy, and it’s cumbersome to travel with a CPAP machine.
An oral appliance for sleep apnea in New York, NY is customized to fit over your teeth like an orthodontic retainer while you sleep. Also called a mandibular advancement device (MAD), this custom-made oral appliance supports your jaw in a forward position, helping keep your airway open. A custom-fit MAD from Dr. Dan Berant can improve your sleep, restore your alertness, and revitalize your health.
MADs can be either one-piece or two-piece and vary in size, material, the number of teeth they cover, and adjustability. Oral appliance therapy is a noninvasive treatment, and the retainer-like device is portable, convenient, and comfortable after you get accustomed to wearing it.
At Dr. Dan Berant, we encourage you to discuss your concerns in our judgment-free zone. Healthy lifestyle changes, in addition to CPAP and oral appliance therapy, can help alleviate sleep apnea.
These include regular physical activity, maintaining good sleeping habits and a healthy weight, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and quitting smoking. In addition, sleeping on your side instead of your back can help keep your airway open while you sleep.
Brief episodes of breathing cessation can strain the body excessively, negatively impacting a person’s physical and psychological well-being. OSA has been linked to higher rates of high blood pressure, stroke, and coronary artery disease, and evidence suggests sleep apnea can cause left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, thereby increasing the risk of heart failure.
Scientific evidence also links OSA to neurodegenerative processes and neurovascular damage, which may lead to cognitive impairment and, eventually, dementia. As such, treating sleep apnea at Dr. Dan Berant reduces snoring, improves sleep quality, and delivers life-changing and lifesaving benefits. Sleep apnea treatment at New York, NY can reduce your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and cognitive impairments, as well as lessen the likelihood of accidents caused by fatigue.
Begin your sleep apnea journey by scheduling a consultation.
