Snoring and sleep apnoea

Snoring occurs when the airway or passage through which we breathe becomes partially blocked (occluded).

An example would be a tongue that falls back as we drift off into deeper sleep. As the diameter or size of the airway passage is shrinking, the net result is a muffled sound secondary to vibrations in the throat, or snoring.

During snoring, air flow is partially blocked During sleep apnoea, air flow is completely blocked.

................................................................................. Chances are that your spouse and other family members are well aware of the problem! Recently, a condition known as "secondary snoring" has been researched, and has been shown to cost the bed-partner of a snorer an average of 1.5 hours of sleep each night. Snoring, in fact, has also been shown to be a leading cause of divorce. .................................................................................

In many snoring situations, this compromise is minor and the body continues to get adequate amounts of oxygen, causing little or no harm.

However, snoring is a red flag as it could also be one of the early signs or a part of sleep apnoea. Almost all sleep apnoea sufferers snore in between bouts of apnoea, or oxygen interruption. A sleep study should be done to determine the seriousness of the individual's condition.

Sleep apnoea patients have a rough night and don’t even know it is happening. In a given night, these apnoeic events (when a patient stops breathing) can occur anywhere from 30 – 50 times, and in some people as many as 60 times per night! Obviously, these individuals often awake exhausted each morning, as they’ve been fighting for oxygen all night.

Common side effects of sleep apnoea

• heart attacks or irregular heart beats
• decreased libido
• impotence
• high blood pressure
• stroke
• heartburn
• morning headaches
• dry mouth
• gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• impaired concentration
• depression
• irritability

Chances are that your spouse and other family members are well aware of the problem! They either also suffer from your noisy snoring, or see the signs of a body which is not sleeping at night. Recently, a condition known as "secondary snoring" has been researched, and has been shown to cost the bed partner of a snorer an average of 1.5 hours of sleep each night. Snoring, in fact, has also been shown to be a leading cause of divorce.

Treatments for snoring and sleep apnoea
to help you get a good night's sleep

The gold standard for treatment of sleep apnoea is presently with the CPAP machine which delivers oxygen through a mask placed over the nose & mouth whilst sleeping. However, only 10 - 20% of CPAP wearers are still compliant after one year. If you are one of these, we can fabricate an oral appliance that will help open your airway and reduce the severity of your sleep apnoea.

These appliances reduce sleep apnoea associated health risks without the need for surgery, medications, or other therapies. A custom oral appliance worn while sleeping holds the lower jaw forward and open, preventing the tongue and throat tissues from collapsing the critical airway. There is a 96% success rate (snoring) for people treated with these appliances.

One "mandibular-repositioning" appliance we use is called the Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP®) oral appliance, composed of two separate arches (upper and lower) containing an advancing mechanism which permits unlimited advancement of the lower jaw. The arches are custom fit to a patient's models. The advancing mechanism is engaged and the screw mechanism in the upper tray is then turned to advance the mandible (jaw) to open the airway and can be adjusted until the snoring improves. It is important to monitor any changes in the temporomandibular joint position or occlusion when the appliance is worn for a long time.

Whether it’s snoring that has forced you into a life 'sleeping on the couch' or a more serious apnoea problem, please call to schedule an appointment to discuss your condition or arrange a referral to a sleep clinic for assessment.

Yoga and Breathing courses

We also run courses for Remedial and Buteyko Breathing