Suffer From Sleep Apnoea? This Is How We Can Help With Sleep Disorder Treatment Are you tired of waking up in the morning still feeling exhausted? Sick of wondering why after eight ‘solid’ hours of sleep you are still tired? You aren’t alone! It may be time to consider sleep disorder treatment. You have worked hard all day and cannot wait curl up in bed and get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, if you’re one of the 5% of Australians affected by sleep apnoea, a restful night is far from your reality. The good news is that you can get help and minimise side effects with effective sleep disorder treatment. How do you know if you suffer from sleep apnoea? As the name suggests, sleep apnoea occurs when you are sleeping. During sleep the walls of your throat come together, which ultimately blocks your airway. This results in breathing pauses typically lasting anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, or repeated shallow breathing. Unfortunately, odds are you will not even realise if you suffer from a sleep disorder. Knowing the tell-tale signs will give you the knowledge you need to seek professional assistance and be diagnosed sooner. Signs of a sleep disorder include: excessive tiredness and possibly falling asleep throughout the day snoring waking from sleep gasping for air obesity high blood pressure. Diagnosing sleep apnoea is easy. Thanks to modern medicine, patients can now use home sleep testing equipment and perform the test in the comfort of their own beds. Once analysed, your doctor and dentist team can discuss treatment options with you. Sleep disorder treatment options Like most disorders, there are several treatment options available. They include: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – This is a mask that is worn at night and transfers increased air pressure into the throat, preventing the throat walls from collapsing. It is a very effective treatment for severe cases, though many find this impractical as a long term solution. Oral appliances – Mouthguards are an option for mild to moderate cases. When sleeping they hold your jaw forward, changing the direction of airflow. Lifestyle changes – Reducing alcohol intake and losing weight can be a step in the right direction to improved sleep. Surgery – In some severe cases, having surgical adjustment of your upper airway obstruction is effective. You don’t have to suffer from sleep apnoea anymore. Speak to your healthcare provider about getting diagnosed and then consult a sleep disorder treatment specialist to help you get the good night’s rest you crave. If you want professional help from sleep disorder treatment experts, give the team at Robert Duhig Dentist a call today on 07 3269...

What Is A Snoring Mouthpiece? A snoring mouthpiece is a non-invasive, comfortable and affordable option for treating moderate sleep problems and disorders. If you snore, wake up feeling tired, constantly feel fatigued, or suffer from broken sleep, a snoring mouthpiece can be a simple and effective way to treat your sleep issues and help you say goodnight to interrupted sleep. How do snoring mouthpieces work? A snoring mouthpiece is an oral appliance, which positions the lower jaw forward. Moving the lower jaw forward allows the back of your throat to open, preventing your airway from collapsing during sleep and reducing your ability to snore. The mouthpieces can be customised and your dentist can assist you to ensure your snoring mouthpiece fits comfortably within your mouth. The devices are user friendly and easy to insert and remove. Why a snoring mouthpiece? When it comes to treatment options for sleep issues and disorders, snoring mouthpieces are the least invasive treatment option available. Alternatives to snoring mouthpieces include the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which some find difficult to sleep with and intrusive. The other option is surgery. Snoring mouthpieces are an effective anti-snoring solution and proven to treat moderate sleep apnoea and similar sleep disorders. Sleep apnoea Snoring can be a warning sign of a serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnoea. If you have obstructive sleep apnoea you can stop breathing while sleeping from 10 seconds to more than a minute due to your airway collapsing. This results in broken sleep leaving you feeling tired when you wake and exposing you to the risk of accident and injury due to fatigue. Sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders are serious and can be associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart attack. What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea? Obstructive sleep apnoea symptoms include gasping or choking at times during sleep, excessive tiredness during the day and fatigue related issues, and fractured teeth and fillings. Sleep disorder diagnosis Medibyte Home Sleep Testing Equipment allows you to undergo an analysis of your sleep experience from the comfort of your own home. The overnight sleep test can diagnose sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea, and assess whether it is mild, moderate or severe. Your dentist can then recommend the best course of action for treatment, with snoring mouthpieces the recommended treatment for moderate sleep apnoea. Contact Robert Duhig today on (07) 3269 2443 to find out how a snoring mouthpiece can help...

Sleep Apnoea (also spelled apnea) is a potentially dangerous and highly irritating condition that can seriously interrupt your life. The good news is there are effective Sleep Apnoea treatments available from your doctor, and your dentist. What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea? Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, commonly known as Sleep Apnoea, is a condition in which airways collapse during sleep and breathing is stopped between 10 seconds to 1 minute. This can occur multiple times during the night, thus not allowing for a deep, penetrative sleep to take place. Sufferers of Sleep Apnoea can wake feeling considerably tired due to broken amounts of sleep. Sleep Apnoea can have a significant impact on health and general wellbeing. Sleep Apnoea greatly increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Sleep deprivation due to Sleep Apnoea can raise the chances of injury and motor vehicle accidents. Children’s school performance can also be impacted as a result of Sleep Apnoea. In the past, sleep apnoea treatments have been invasive and cumbersome so were largely ineffective for light sleepers. This has lead to sleep apnoea going untreated in some patients.   What are the symptoms of Sleep Apnoea? Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea can include: · Snoring · Periods of gasping, snorting or choking during sleep · Waking with a dry, sore throat · Irritability, anxiety or depression · Poor concentration or memory skills How is Sleep Apnoea diagnosed? If you think you have Sleep Apnoea, the first step is to see your local General Practitioner who may refer you to an ENT Surgeon to rule out any other causes for your symptoms. The second step is to undergo a sleep study where overnight monitoring in consultation with a sleep physician will occur. This will involve investigating and diagnosing the problem based on your sleep patterns. It will also assist in finding the treatment that is best suited to you.   Sleep Apnoea treatments from your dentist An Oral Appliance called the Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) can be custom fit for people with mild obstructive sleep apnoea. This appliance fits into the mouth similar to a mouth-guard and holds the lower jaw forward which creates extra room for the tongue. This then results in a decrease in snoring. This appliance is best suited to those with no pre-existing dental or jaw problems. These are a revolutionary product for the treatment of sleep apnoea because unlike the older style machines, these fit neatly int he mouth and don’t interfere with natural sleep movement. A tongue-retraining device can also be used to correct Sleep Apnoea. This is a splint that is inserted by your dentist to keep airways open. This device required periodic adjustments over time. Do you...