Sleep Apnea

Heavy snoring and being sleepy throughout the day are a couple of the symptoms of sleep apnea. While these may seem like vague symptoms, it is very important to be evaluated if you are experiencing them. Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes pauses in breathing, or extremely shallow breathing while sleeping, due to an obstruction in your airway. When sleeping, the muscles in your jaw, mouth, and throat naturally relax; with sleep apnea, they relax too much and obstruct the airway. In addition to snoring and being tired, sleep apnea can pose other serious health risks like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and an increased risk of stroke.

North Tahoe sleep apnea sufferers do have several treatment options once they’ve been diagnosed. The most common treatment prescribed is a CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure machine. The CPAP delivers a stream of air through a mask to help keep the airway open, preventing collapse and improving overnight breathing.

If your sleep apnea is not overly severe, or you cannot wear the CPAP machine mask while sleeping, Dr. Milligan is able to create an oral appliance for you, to keep your jaw from relaxing back and obstructing your airway overnight.