Sleep disordered breathing (Sleep apnoea and snoring), is a common sleep condition. Approximately 50% of men and 20% of women in Australia snore, which has been known to have a profound impact on our lives and that of our partners and family.
In some cases, snoring can be a sign of something far more significant to our general health, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is an event during sleep where the tongue and soft palate collapse, causing an interruption to breathing and an episode of sleep disruption with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. With this, the normal sleep cycle is interrupted, making us feel tired and un-refreshed when we wake in the morning or during the day. It also increases our risk of a multitude of general health conditions, including stroke, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Thankfully, there are many conservative, non invasive management strategies that we can use to reduce the effect that sleep apnoea or sleep disordered breathing has on us.
Here are 5 helpful ideas that you can use to manage your sleep disordered breathing:
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- Weight loss.
- Improve ‘sleep hygiene’
- Avoid alcohol in large volumes late at night
- Blocked nose? Try a nasal dilator
- Consider your position when you sleep
In all cases, diagnosis is key in order to make sure that you are managed appropriately, when sleep apnoea goes untreated or undertreated, significant health implications can result. There are many more simple ways that your sleep apnoea or sleep disordered breathing can be managed using advances in modern medicine. One management strategy is with a dental device, worn during sleep, to posture the lower jaw forward preventing collapse of the airway. In any case, a peaceful night’s sleep is achievable for your partner.
To book an appointment or to discuss your options further, please feel free to contact the DR Dental and the SAJE clinic on 9826 2146.