Did you know sleep apnea comes in many forms and is fairly common? Dr. Gregory Solich is no stranger to treating these types of cases and has helped patients in and around Colorado Springs, CO for years. So, what exactly is sleep apnea? The literal definition: an involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs while the patient is asleep. To put it more succinctly, it occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep, usually a period lasting between 10-20 seconds. If left untreated, breathing is halted repeatedly during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. Serious consequences include high blood pressure, heart disease, eye problems, stroke, chronic fatigue, diabetes, depression and other ailments.
3 Types of Sleep Apnea
They are: obstructive, central, and mixed. Let’s dive a little deeper.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. This is also the most common type.
Central sleep apnea doesn’t block the airway, but causes the brain to fail to signal the muscles to breathe.
Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the two – the brain rouses the sleeper, usually only partially, to signal breathing to resume resulting in extremely fragmented and poor sleep.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms include:
- Extremely loud snoring
- Obesity
- Persistent daytime sleepiness
- Bouts of awakening out of breath during the night
- Frequent dry mouth or headaches after awakening
Did You Know?
- Sleep apnea is as common as type 2 diabetes.
- Sleep apnea affects more than 18 million Americans, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
- Males whom are overweight and over the age of 40 are a risk factor.
- Sleep apnea remains undiagnosed among a majority of patients and, therefore, is untreated.
Dr. Solich To The Rescue
Dr. Gregory Solich offers comprehensive therapy for sleep using a custom-fitted oral appliance. This oral device effectively prevents the obstruction of your airway while you sleep, preventing breaks in breathing and decreasing snoring so that you and your partner can sleep soundly.
Make An Appointment Today
Call our office in Colorado Springs, CO to make an appointment. We also serve the surrounding areas of Black Forest, Falcon, Monument, Cimarron Hills, and Manitou Springs.