Posted: May 18, 2015
Snoring can earn you some ribbing from friends and family, but there is a real danger to simply laughing off a chronic problem. Snoring is a leading indicator of sleep apnea, a condition that disrupts your breathing during sleeping hours. It can lead to serious physical dangers such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and depression. It also negatively impacts those who slumber within earshot.
If you snore, you’re not alone. Almost half of the adult population snores occasionally, and of those noisy sleepers, 75% snore as a result of sleep apnea.
Not all treatments require medical assistance. There are several lifestyle adjustments you can make immediately:
- Quit smoking
- Decrease alcohol consumption
- Stay hydrated
- Sleep on your side instead of your back
- Try a full-length body pillow
For some snoring cases, medical intervention increases the quality of your nighttime rest.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment requires a machine and sleeping mask that regulate air pressure throughout the night. Although CPAP is one of the most effective methods to address sleep apnea, the treatment is sometimes too cumbersome for many users.
DNA expansion orthodontic therapy is a non-surgical alternative that employs your genetic code to remedy tooth placement issues. This sleep apnea treatment reduces snoring by increasing the size of your air and nasal cavity.
Oral appliance therapy also helps keep your airway open during the night, but requires a fitted device which is worn while you sleep. This treatment provides artificial muscle tone and stabilizes your tongue and jaw.
Contact the Center for Dental Sleep Medicine today by using the form at the right side of this page or call 201-792-9400 now to schedule your initial sleep apnea consultation. Dr. Frank DePaola serves patients in Hoboken, Jersey City, and throughout Hudson County, New Jersey.
