What is Snoring? 

The main snoring cause is due to the partial closure of the airway during sleep. During sleep muscles in the neck relax and for some people the soft tissue in the upper throat vibrate, which makes the sound we know as snoring. Now you know about snoring do you know about Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea? 

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a serious medical condition that is more widespread than initially thought. In the UK Obstructive Sleep Apnoea occurs on a similar frequency as Diabetes and double that of severe Asthma.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) occurs when a person stops breathing while asleep, which can be up to 50 to 60 times per hour. These breathing interruptions, known as “Sleep Apnoea” occur when the airway narrows so much that it closes. If we compare Obstructive Sleep Apnoea to simple snoring, simple snoring is the vibration of the soft tissue in the throat caused by a partial closure of the airway, whereas OSA is caused by the complete closure of the airway.

The closure of the airway causes breathing to stop, which in turn reduces the oxygen level in the blood. The brain reacts to cause a partial wakening. The snorer will often not be aware of this partial wakening during the night. As a result of this sleep fragmentation, many sufferers have excessive daytime sleepiness, resulting in their inability to concentrate, experience marital disharmony and fall asleep at unexpected and inappropriate times. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea makes them at least twice as likely to have a motor accident if they are driving. However, this is not the worst news. Research has demonstrated that the repeated falls in oxygen levels in the blood caused by OSA are linked to the development of high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes and diabetes. The reality is that untreated OSA is a killer and needs to be taken seriously and there are many snorers who simply don’t even know how serious their condition might be.

An OSA sufferer will snore loudly, their partner may tell them that they also stop breathing during sleep and both could find that proper sleep becomes impossible leading to sleepiness and other problems during the day. 

The four clinically proven options are:

1. Mandibular Advancement appliances therapy,

2. Continuous Positive Airways Pressure,

3. Weight loss 

4. Surgery

1. Mandibular Advancement Appliances

Mandibular Advancement appliances (MAA) are customized mouth pieces made for each patient to be worn at night time to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. Modern devices permit the lower jaw to be advanced in a gradual manner and so not only improve their action but also help the patient to adapt more gradually to them. They are now Nationally and Internationally recognized in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea.

Such appliances can be made by Professor Johal.

2. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure [CPAP]

CPAP is regarded as the gold standard and largely reserved for those with severe obstructive sleep apnoea, There are many types of CPAP equipment and a number of CPAP products. Unfortunately, CPAP tolerance can be a problem and these patients are recommended Mandibular advancement appliances as an alternative. Equally, CPAP treatment is not recommended for the treatment of simple snoring.

3. Weight loss

Loss of weight can reduce snoring and there are numerous other health benefits but it is a gradual process for patients to embark on.

4. Surgery

Surgery can be used to treat snoring but is not always successful and can be extremely painful. It is not regarded as an option for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea.

Ama provides treatment for both Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. This is in the form of a custom-made mandibular advancement appliance, which permits the lower jaw to be advanced in a slow gradual manner and so opening the airway and clearing the obstruction and improving the symptoms. The particular advantage of these custom-made devices has been proven and include patient preference and comfort due to the fact they allow the patient to adapt more gradually to the appliance.  This treatment is now both nationally and internationally recognized in the management of snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea.