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Do you snore loudly almost every night, feel tired as soon as you wake up, and find that the day seems to drag on? These signs may indicate sleep apnea. During the night, your breathing stops repeatedly, without you necessarily being aware of it. This condition is diagnosed through a sleep study, and several treatments are available.
During sleep, the throat muscles relax. The base of the tongue, the uvula, and the soft palate then narrow the airway. When the airway narrows, the air causes these tissues to vibrate: this is snoring. When the airway closes completely, breathing stops: this is apnea.
These breathing pauses recur throughout the night and fragment sleep, making it less restorative. Doctors refer to this as obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Hypopnea refers to a significant reduction in breathing, without a complete pause.
Not all people who snore have sleep apnea. However, loud, daily snoring is one of the warning signs to watch for, especially if it’s accompanied by fatigue.
Some signs may seem harmless. However, if people around you notice pauses in your breathing, you should talk to a doctor about it, even if you have no other symptoms. A combination of several signs should also raise a red flag.
Sleep that’s interrupted all night long isn’t restful. In everyday life, drowsiness and reduced alertness increase the risk of accidents, both on the road and at work. Difficulty concentrating and mood disorders also take a toll on your personal and professional life. Finally, snoring can disturb the person sharing your room.
In the long term, untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It can also contribute to heart rhythm disorders.
Appropriate treatment aims to reduce breathing pauses and drowsiness, and to improve fatigue and quality of life.
Only a doctor can make the diagnosis. If any of these symptoms concern you, talk to your primary care physician first. They will assess your symptoms and your sleepiness, and then refer you to a sleep specialist if necessary.
The diagnosis is based on a recording of your breathing during the night: ventilatory polygraphy or, if necessary, the more comprehensive polysomnography. The recording helps confirm or rule out the diagnosis and assess its severity based on the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour. Ventilatory polygraphy is based on the duration of the recording; polysomnography is based on the duration of sleep.
Your dentist does not make this diagnosis. However, you can discuss it during your next appointment at the office.
The treatment is chosen by the sleep specialist based on the severity of the apnea and your specific situation. There are several treatment options, which are sometimes used in combination.
These measures can be used as part of the treatment plan. Depending on the medical evaluation, they may be sufficient for certain mild cases:
A small device delivers air at low pressure through a mask worn at night. This air helps keep the airways open and reduce breathing pauses.
It consists of two custom-made mouthpieces, worn at night, that hold the lower jaw in a forward position. The tongue moves forward with it, allowing air to flow more freely. Prescribed by a sleep medicine specialist, it is fitted and monitored by a dentist. It is custom-made in a laboratory; at the dental office, Dr. Victor Zilioli oversees its fitting and follow-up. How it works and the steps involved are detailed on the Mandibular Advancement Appliance page.
In certain situations, surgery may be considered depending on the anatomy of the airways and the results of other treatments. Whether surgery is indicated is determined by a medical evaluation.
No. Snoring is caused by a narrowing of the airway; sleep apnea is caused by a complete blockage that interrupts breathing. However, if you snore loudly every night, you should talk to your doctor about it—especially if you feel tired or if people around you have noticed that you stop breathing.
People around you may notice pauses in your breathing, but only a sleep study can confirm this. This test is ordered by a doctor following a consultation.
It’s up to the sleep specialist to determine this, based on your symptoms and your situation. In mild cases, lifestyle changes may be sufficient, such as losing weight if necessary or sleeping on your side.
The diagnosis is made by the doctor. When a sleep specialist prescribes a mandibular advancement device, the dentist checks the condition of the teeth and gums. The dentist takes impressions so the device can be custom-made in a laboratory, then fits it, adjusts it, and provides follow-up care.
Do you recognize these symptoms, or has your doctor mentioned a mandibular advancement device? Bring it up during your next appointment at the Croissy-sur-Seine office. If a mandibular advancement appliance is prescribed for you, Dr. Victor Zilioli will fit it and provide follow-up care at the office. To contact the office, call 01 30 53 13 68.
