Some of us never get the satisfaction of a good night's sleep.
Excessive drowsiness and tiredness during the day, even following an ample shut-eye can be a sign of sleep apnoea, especially among those who snore.
Sleep Apnoea is a sleeping disorder which is characterised by not being able to breathe in sufficient amount of air while you are asleep.
The suspension of breathing can range from a few seconds to minutes and can occur several times a night.
Snoring can be the first sign of sleep apnoea.
You may not even know about it unless your partner hears you gasping at night.
The body has to carry out its functions during the day in order to make up for the lack of sufficient oxygen that its organs receive at night, thus causing you to be fatigued during the day.
Lack of concentration and decreased work performance, irritability, moodiness and vision problems are other symptoms of sleep apnoea.
This can cause a negative impact on health if not treated and can lead to potentially fatal medical conditions like suffering a stroke, diabetes or depression.
What causes sleep apnoea? Several reasons are known to cause sleep apnoea.
In many cases, the muscles of the throat relax excessively and it causes the airway to narrow.
It has been observed that in some patients, the lower jaw slides back while sleeping, causing the tongue to collapse or fold back, thereby shutting off the air flow.
Obesity, large tonsils, receding chin, excessive alcohol consumption and ageing are some other factors that can cause sleep apnoea.
What should be done? The suggested treatment option for people who have sleep apnoea is to use a machine called the Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) which works by using mild air pressure through a tube connected to a mask that covers the nose and sometimes the mouth in order to keep the airway open.
Patients find this machine pretty cumbersome, and stop using it after a while.
Oral appliance therapy is a preferred treatment option that has shown positive results.
These work by repositioning the lower jaw to open up the airways so that you can breathe easier while you are asleep.
Oral appliances are custom made to fit your mouth while you are sleeping.
They consist of two dental plates and are worn over your teeth, much similar to sports mouth guards.
Oral appliances have provided relief to several sleep apnoea patients and their size, comfort and easy maintenance is what makes it more popular.