While snoring itself may be harmless, it can also develop into or be symptom of a serious medical condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is a very dangerous condition. If you or a loved one snore loudly at night, it would be wise to have a sleep study done to rule out this potentially fatal condition.

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

In many situations, this compromise is minor and the body continues to get adequate amounts of oxygen to cause little or no harm. However, this is a red flag as it could also be one of the early signs or a part of sleep apnea. Most all sleep apnea sufferers snore in between bouts of apnea, or oxygen interruption. A sleep study helps determine the seriousness of one''s condition.

Should you be worried? Common side effects of sleep apnea are: heart attacks or irregular heart beats, impotence, high blood pressure, stroke, heartburn, morning headaches, and the obvious one, chronic sleepiness. It can cause learning or memory disabilities, as well as periods of nodding off while on the phone or at work. Obviously, sleep apnea patients are at a much greater risk of having auto accidents.

People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those we''ve mentioned already who snore, or who are also overweight, or have high blood pressure. Another concern would be people who have some physical abnormality in the nose (deviated septums), throat, or other parts of the upper airway. Sleep apnea seems to run in some families, suggesting a possible genetic link.

In our office, we treat snoring and sleep apnea with removable dental appliances. These appliances reduce sleep apnea associated health risks without the need for surgery, medications, or other therapies. A custom oral appliance worn while sleeping, holds the lower jaw forward preventing the tongue and throat tissues from collapsing the critical airway space. These appliances are most effective in mild to moderate sleep apnea situations.

Whether it''s snoring that has forced you into a life on the couch or a more serious apnea problem, call us today to discuss your condition!