Anti Snoring devices and Sleep Apnea therapy
Are you one of the 45% of normal adults who snore at least occasionally or one of the approx 25% of adults who snore habitually? Well you are not alone, snoring and its associated problem of sleep apnea are a growing problem amongst the population of many developing countries. Problem snoring is more frequent among males and those of us who are overweight it often gets worse with age and in its more severe form can have severe health implications.

What causes snoring?
The noisy sounds of snoring occur when there is an obstruction to the free flow of air through the passages at the back of the mouth and nose. This area is the collapsible part of the airway where the tongue and the upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula (the dangling piece of tissue at the back of your throat). Snoring occurs when these structures vibrate and strike each other during breathing.

People who snore may suffer from:
• Poor muscle tone in the tongue or throat often caused by alcohol or drugs. The tongue falls backwards into the airway or the throat muscles draw in form the sides into the airway.
• Excessive bulkiness of throat tissue
• Long soft palate and / or uvula. A long soft palate narrows the opening from the nose into the throat, loose in nature it acts like a noisy flutter valve during relaxed breathing
• Obstructed nasal airways. A stuffy or blocked nose requires extra effort to pull air through it. This creates an exaggerated vacuum in the throat and pulls together the floppy tissues of the throat resulting in snoring.
• Some deformities of the nose or nasal septum. Is Snoring serious? Socially yes, it can cause huge issues within relationships when one partner has regularly disturbed sleep caused simply by the sound of a habitual snorer. Many clients are pushed into treatment by their respective partners as typically most snorers do no feel that they have the problem….. sound familiar?

Medically it can also be a major issue with many sufferers not aware of the long term health problems snoring can cause. These are usually related to disturbed sleeping patterns and the deprivation of the essential rest a good nights sleep provides. In a significant proportion of sufferers the medical issues involved stem from a condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Often under diagnosed and frequently dismissed simply as a harmless yet annoying snoring condition, “obstructive sleep apnea” (OSA) is a very dangerous condition. More severe than ‘normal’ snoring people who suffer from this condition actually will stop breathing anything numerous times during the night.

The airway in OBS actually becomes fully closed or blocked, starving the brain and body of oxygen. Due to this the sufferer will automatically awaken usually with a small jolt and gasp of breath to open the airway, restore the oxygen deficiency and resume sleep until the next attack. Almost all sleep apnea sufferers snore in between bouts of apnea, or oxygen interruption.

Sleep apnea patients have a rough night and unfortunately they don’t even know it is happening. In a given night, these apneic events (when a patient stops breathing) can occur anywhere from 30 – 50 times, and in some people as many as 60 times per night! Obviously, these individuals awake exhausted and spent each morning, as they’ve been fighting for oxygen all night. Sleep should be a replenishing award for each of us but for sufferers of OBS this is not the case.

Should you be worried?
Well, to answer that, first analyze some signs and symptoms of sleep apnea sufferers. Common side effects of sleep apnea patients are:• heart attacks or irregular heart beats • impotence • high blood pressure • stroke • heartburn • morning headaches • dry mouth • gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) • impaired concentration • depression • decreased libido • irritability ... and the obvious one, chronic sleepiness.

It can also cause learning or memory disabilities, as well as periods of nodding off while on the phone or at work. Obviously, sleep apnea patients are at a much greater risk of having auto accidents.

Who is likely to suffer from OSA?
People most likely to have or develop sleep apnea include those we’ve mentioned already who snore, or who are also overweight, or have high blood pressure. Another concern would be people who have some physical abnormality in the nose (deviated septums), throat, or other parts of the upper airway.

Another easy marker is neck-size. Studies show a neck size of 17" or larger is a good indicator of this disorder, and it doesn't matter if it's muscle or fat.

Sleep apnea also seems to run in some families, suggesting a possible genetic link. Signs of OSANocturnal signs and symptoms associated with OSA include drooling, dry mouth, sleep restlessness, witnessed apneas, choking or gasping and sweating.

What can we at ‘blueapple’ do to help?
At blueapple, we treat snoring and sleep apnea with a unique approach. Using a professional and highly trained laboratory we are pleased to be able to offer exclusively to our clients the ‘TAP’ appliance. This device alleviates snoring and sleep apnea by holding the lower jaw forward during sleep to prevent the tongue and soft tissue of the throat from collapsing into the airway.

This appliance has a unique design as it allows the patient or their spouse to control the degree to which the lower jaw is held forward and hence control the volume of the snoring. Many clients partners claim to be able to ‘turn down the volume’ as they wish without waking the wearer. It is a custom made 2 piece appliance that once professionally fitted snaps into place over the upper and lower teeth. It contains a unique ‘screw plate’ which essentially allows very accurate positioning of the lower jaw to achieve maximum benefit and comfort.

The TAP appliance has alleviated snoring in more than 96% of people treated making it more successful than any other oral appliance currently available. It is also the only oral appliance proven effective for the treatment of severe OSA.As a dedicated user of the TAP appliance we at ‘blueapple’ are perfectly positioned to offer all suitable clients this life changing treatment.