Snoring and sleep apnoea treatment can not only improve your sleep quality but also that of your PARTNER’S…
Professor Johal has established both National and International expertise in the field. He is regarded as a leading UK authority on the management of snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea using dental appliances referred to as mandibular advancement appliances, having completed a PhD in the field. As such, he is a recognized International expert in the management of snoring conditions using these dental appliances and actively works with sleep doctors with equal specialization in the field. He has been involved in both clinical treatment, development and research in this field for over 20 years and has presented this work at International and National meetings around the world.
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.