Obstructive Sleep Apnea Daytona Beach

What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

The most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea has to do with the soft tissues of the mouth and throat collapsing to the point where a blockage in the airway is created. This makes it difficult to breathe freely, and the brain quickly triggers the body to wake up and normalize breathing. These episodes can occur hundreds of times in a given night, often without a patient even realizing it!

Possible Complications of OSA

Many patients are told by their sleeping partner that they snore loudly or stop breathing at night, and this is one of the most helpful and obvious ways of indicating there’s a problem. However, other recognizable symptoms and conditions that often point to OSA include:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Drowsy driving
• Chronic fatigue
• Frequent headaches
• Moodiness
• Obesity/weight gain
• Loss of libido

Types of Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

When you’re visiting Dr. Lloyd to discuss your sleep apnea, he’ll often review and inform you about every possible treatment option out there – not just oral appliance therapy. This is because it can be effective to combine solutions when possible, to minimize symptoms and improve quality of life. Sometimes, it’s all about finding the correct combination of treatments! This could include things like:

Lifestyle Changes

In many cases, sleep apnea is the result of lifestyle habits and factors, including smoking and tobacco usage, alcohol consumption, and your weight/diet. Dr. Lloyd may recommend implementing certain changes into your life as part of your treatment plan. This could include looking over resources that help you quit or limit your tobacco or alcohol usage, or establishing a dedicated exercise routine combined with a healthy diet. Simply put, the healthier you are in general, the less likely you are to be impacted by severe sleep apnea.

CPAP

One of the most common methods of sleep apnea treatment involves a CPAP machine, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. It involves a soft nasal mask that’s worn while a patient sleeps; connected to a special machine, it’s able to keep a patient’s airway completely open and unobstructed as they’re sleeping.

Oral Appliance Treatment

A custom-made oral appliance is arguably the most effective way of addressing sleep breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Many patients prefer these solutions over CPAP therapy since they’re incredibly easy to use. They’re simply worn to bed, with no setup needed, no power cords or hoses to get tangled, and of course, no disruptive noise! Fitting much like a sports mouthguard, they work by repositioning the jaw to open the central airway and allow an unobstructed flow of oxygen. The appliance can also help address the many disorders associated with challenges such as persistent fatigue and teeth grinding, among others.

Learn More About Oral Appliance Treatment

Combined Therapy

If you have severe OSA, combined therapy is often an effective option. This involves using an oral appliance and a CPAP machine together to ensure that your airway remains open and unobstructed. Typically, the CPAP machine is kept on a lower setting so that you’re able to still comfortably wear your oral appliance, allowing them to effectively work in unison.

Surgery

In serious cases, like if sleep apnea poses a major threat to your health, there are instances when we may recommend surgery. However, we consider this a last resort after all other possible solutions have been completely exhausted. Our team is committed to helping you take the correct next steps concerning your sleep apnea treatment.