Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects about 20 million Americans. It can be life-threatening if left untreated.

It causes you to stop breathing for up to 10 seconds while you're sleeping. This can happen a few times or several times depending on the severity of the condition. When this happens, your body is forced out of the deeper stages of sleep to prompt you to breath again. This interruption in your sleep cycle negatively effects the quality of sleep; this can lead to many health concerns including cardiovascular conditions, obesity, depression, certain cancers and more. While there are several types, Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common. 

What is actually happening during an episode?
With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the tongue and throat muscles relax, blocking the airway, preventing you from breathing. Since you are no longer breathing, the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood become unbalanced. This triggers the brain to send a signal to your upper airway muscles to resume breathing. This trigger also interrupts the sleep cycle. You may not remember waking up, but it effects your health and you may experience some symptoms the next day. 
What causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
There are several possible causes, from ones that can be treated to structural issues. Here is a list of some of them.
STATS and FACTS
  • 1 to 5 adults have it
  • 30 millions Americans snore
  • Fewer that 10% have been diagnosed
  • Nearly 50% of middle-aged adult snore
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) increases the risk of heart attack, hypertension, congestive heart failure, stroke, diabetes, reflux disease, impotence, motor vehicle accident
  • Your partner can lose up to 1 hour of sleep due to snoring
Narrow Maxillary (upper jaw)

The shape of the maxillary can have an affect on breathing due to the difference in airflow. There is also potentially insufficient space for the tongue, making it more likely for it to obstruct breathing during sleep.
Narrow Maxillary  (upper jaw)

The shape of the maxillary can have 
an affect on breathing due to the difference in airflow. There is also potentially insufficient space for the tongue, making it more likely for it to obstruct breathing during sleep.
Retrognathic Mandible (lower jaw)

A retrognathic mandible is a recessed or small lower jaw. This condition can leave less room for the tongue, making it more likely for it to obstruct breathing during sleep. 
Retrognathic Mandible (lower jaw)

A retrognathic mandible is a recessed 
or small lower jaw. This condition 
can leave less room for the tongue, making it more likely for it to obstruct breathing during sleep. 
Scalloped tongue

A scalloped tongue is generally a symptom of an underlying condition or an indication of a small or recessed mandible (lower jaw). 

The indentations on the tongue are caused by it pressing up against the teeth. The tongue in this scenario can be the obstruction causing sleep apnea. 
Scalloped tongue

A scalloped tongue is generally 
a symptom of an underlying condition 
or an indication of a small or recessed mandible (lower jaw). 

The indentations on the tongue are caused by it pressing up against the teeth. The tongue in this scenario can be the obstruction causing sleep apnea. 
Mallampati Score

The Mallampati score was developed to asses the airway. Anesthesiologists use the score to determine the level of difficulty for intubation before surgery.

The score is determined by how easy it is to see the back of the throat (the image on the left notes the four possible scores).

It has since been discovered a higher score can also indicate a higher chance for sleep apnea.  
Mallampati Score

The Mallampati score was developed to asses the airway. Anesthesiologists use the score to determine the level of difficulty for intubation before surgery.

The score is determined by how easy it is to see the back of the throat (the image on the left notes the four possible scores).

It has since been discovered a higher score can also indicate a higher chance 
for sleep apnea.