Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Do You or a Partner snore to the point of disrupting the other ones sleep? Do you wake up from a night's sleep feeling tired? You could be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OBA). OBA is a disorder of the upper respiratory tract where the tongue is pulled back against the posterior wall of the pharynx by the pressure of inhalation. Snoring occurs when the tongue is posteriorly displaced. It is important to note that ALL OSA patients are snorers, but NOT all snorers have OSA. Because OSA can be a serious disorder, possibly contributing to systemic hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, increased motor vehicle accident rate, sleepiness, impaired quality of life and even increased mortality, ALL SNORERS SHOULD BE SCREENED for the condition by a trained professional.

Treatment of OSA depends on the severity of symptoms, magnitude of the complications and etiology of the upper airway obstruction. CPAP therapy has proven effective for many patients, but a Kribbs study showed that 54% of the subjects used the CPAP less than 4 hours per night. Studies continue to be done and new treatments have been found that are more convenient and easier to use.

New oral appliances have been found to be effective in treating snoring in mild and moderate OSA patients. Our practice is now equipped to fit you for an appliance that can hopefully be worn up to 3 hours longer than the CPAP.

Dr. Hartmann will soon be working with area ENT's to help coordinate treatment between offices. We are able to bill most medical insurances. Please contact our office (708/366-6760) or visit our web site (www.hartmanndds.com) if you are interested in learning more about getting a good night's sleep and possibly reducing your risk of many other respiratory or cardiac issues.