Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax excessively, obstructing proper breathing. These muscles support crucial structures such as the soft palate (the back of the roof of the mouth), tongue, and side walls of the throat. When these muscles relax too much, they cause the airway to narrow or close as you breathe, leading to a reduction in oxygen levels in the blood and an accumulation of carbon dioxide. The brain, sensing this impaired breathing, briefly rouses you from sleep to reopen the airway. These awakenings are often so brief that you do not remember them. You may wake up with shortness of breath that corrects itself quickly with a couple of deep breaths or make snorting, choking, or gasping sounds. This pattern can repeat itself many times each hour throughout the night, preventing you from reaching the deep, restorative phases of sleep and often resulting in daytime sleepiness.

Historically, sleep apnea was a condition mostly observed in older adults. Today, however, pediatric sleep centers are common, indicating a shift in the demographics affected by these conditions.

Quality REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and deep sleep cycles are fundamental for maintaining a robust immune system and overall health. Treatment for OSA often includes continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, lifestyle changes, oral sleep appliances and, in some cases, surgical interventions.

At the Airway Center, we offer minimally invasive screening options that can help to understand the severity of your sleep disorder and make clinically appropriate referral or collaborations to manage your sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea is provided using FDA cleared mandibular advancement devices that reposition the jaw during sleep. These are used only after a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea by a qualified medical provider, and in coordination with your sleep physician. Diagnosis of OSA requires a sleep study. We do not diagnose sleep apnea we provide screening tools to evaluate, collaborate and refer.

Understanding the signs and symptoms of OSA can significantly enhance the quality of life for you or your loved ones by restoring healthy sleep patterns and reducing the risk of comorbid conditions.