Snoring is a signal that something is wrong with your breathing during sleep. It means that the airway is not fully open and the noise that you make comes from efforts to force air through the narrowed passageways.

About one in ten adults snore and for most, snoring has no serious medical consequences. However, for an estimated one in every hundred persons, habitual snoring is the first indication of a potentially life threatening disorder called "Obstructive Sleep Apnea."

Both snoring and sleep apnea are gaining greater recognition among health professionals and the general public. Dr. Homitz can play a role in the recognition and treatment of both snoring and sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea is the absence of breath for 10 seconds or more. Someone is considered to suffer from sleep apnea if they stop breathing like this 30 or more times during a normal 7 hour sleep period.

Consequences of untreated sleep apnea include high blood pressure, other cardiovascular disease, and weight gain. Risk factors include family history, excess weight, a large neck, a recessed chin, male sex, abnormalities in the structure of the upper airway, ethnicity, smoking, and alcohol use.

How to beat the problem:

• Diet if you are overweight.
• Get regular exercise.
• Avoid alcohol prior to going to sleep.
• Avoid sleeping pills.
• Only take over the counter medications that have been approved by your physician.
• Sleep on your side.

Dental appliances have been very successful in the treatment of snoring and are also regularly used in both the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive apnea. Only a specially trained dentist can properly select the appliance that is right for you. Talk to Dr. Homitz if you are at risk, experience the symptoms, or have questions regarding either of these conditions.