There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Of the three, obstructive is by far the most common. Despite the causative differences of each type, people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep. This may happen hundreds of times during the night and can often last for a minute or longer. In central sleep apnea, the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea is a combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea.

How do I know how severe my OSA is?

The most accurate way to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea is with an overnight sleep study. Depending on the physician's preference, this study can be performed in the hospital or at home. It will objectively measure many parameters throughout the night that will aid the physician in determining the severity of the problem. Some of the important measurements include: how often breathing is interrupted, the quality of sleep, the oxygen level in the blood, the heart rate and excessive bodily movements.

The severity of the sleep apnea is determined by the assessment of these parameters and should be thoroughly discussed with you by your physician. SomnoMed dentists work closely with sleep physicians and understand the details of the sleep study and how they affect the therapy.

What does RDI stand for?

The term RDI stands for Respiratory Disturbance Index and is a very important measure of the severity of the sleep disorder. The RDI is a number that represents how many times per hour breathing stops or becomes very shallow. This index is significant as it is often associated with disruption of sleep and dangerous drops in blood oxygen levels. Most physicians agree that an RDI below 5 is normal while an RDI over 30 may indicate severe disease. Many times RDI is used interchangeably with AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index).

What is OSA?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious condition in which the sufferer stops breathing during sleep due to a completely blocked airway, sometimes for up to a minute at a time. OSA is an extremely serious condition that can result in extremely fragmented and of poor quality sleep, and should be treated by a qualified physician.

Who has OSA?

OSA occurs in 24% of men and 9% of women, which is approximately as often as adult diabetes. Although sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, it is usually between the ages of 45-65. Due to a lack of public awareness, the vast majority of sufferers remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated despite the fact that the disorder can have serious medical consequences.

Are snoring and OSA related?

While snoring is caused by a partial obstruction of the airway, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a complete closure of the airway during sleep. OSA results in repeated episodes of stopping breathing (apnea) during which time you continue to make efforts to breathe. Loud snoring is a common symptom of OSA. The sound occurs as you briefly waken at the end of the apneic period and begin to breathe. Some OSA sufferers are described as making snoring or gasping sounds when they resume breathing.

Snoring without apnea is not usually harmful to your health and many snorers who have none of the above symptoms do not have significant OSA. However, some people with OSA are unaware they have it. Thus, careful medical attention is required to ensure the OSA is properly diagnosed and treated.

How can I find out if I have Sleep Apnea?

Your family Physician can refer you to a Sleep Specialist who will take a thorough medical and sleep habits history. The Specialist may then schedule an overnight sleep study called a Polysomnogram, which measures several bodily functions such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, EEG and any Apnea episodes during the different stages of sleep.

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