Snoring

What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a malady where you have frequent, recurring pauses in breathing while sleeping. These lapses can last for up to 60 seconds. They are caused by soft tissue in the back of the throat that relaxes and cuts off the airway. When the brain is not getting enough oxygen…

What is a CPAP machine? CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is a piece of equipment that individuals with sleep apnea use when they sleep. It is designed to ensure that the patient breathes continuously throughout the night, eliminating interruptions and irregular breathing patterns. What is sleep apnea? Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep condition…

Life in Houston, like other places in Texas and around the country, is relentlessly fast-paced. In the course of a day, each of us makes thousands of quick decisions. Many of these are trivial: “Boxers or briefs?”, “White or wheat?”, “Paper or plastic?”, or “Call or text?”. However, some split-second judgments have significant consequences; “I…

At Houston Sleep Solutions, we work to eliminate misconceptions about sleep apnea. Let’s discuss three of them. 1. Sleep apnea is caused by being overweight. Being overweight is a considerable risk factor for developing sleep apnea, but there are many other possible causes, such as diabetes. Being overweight increases the risk of developing sleep apnea.…

What is going on in the throat when a person snores? The tissue in the back of the throat collapses onto the soft palate. This collapses the airway. As the person breathes, this area opens and closes. It’s amazing how loud it can be. What is going on in the throat when a person has…

It’s estimated that 50% of people snore at some point during their life. Sleep apnea is a more serious, but also common sleep disorder. Snoring and sleep apnea are related. Many men and women who snore also have sleep apnea. However, they are two distinct disorders. Why Is Sleep Apnea So Dangerous? Snoring alone doesn’t…

CPAP vs Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) Sleep apnea is primarily treated with two very different devices. A CPAP machine uses air pressure through a tube. The patient wears a mask during sleep and air is forced through the obstruction. An oral device used in OAT physically moves the lower jaw forward. This opens the airway…

Snoring can make for a bad night’s sleep, for you and your bed mate. But if it happens because you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it may be an indication of a bigger problem. Sleep apnea is the involuntary cessation of breathing while you are asleep. There is increasing evidence that untreated obstructive sleep apnea…

Sleep apnea doesn’t just reduce your quality of life. Untreated sleep apnea can actually shorten your life. In multiple ways. Chronic Diseases Untreated sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other types of heart disease. These issues, in turn, can result in a fatal stroke or heart attack. According to the Centers for Disease…