Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Dr. Patrick Nesbitt
Laugh and the world laughs with you. Snore and you sleep alone. And if you snore and / or do not get restful sleep you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea ( OSA ) .
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea ?
Suffocating in your sleep !
Which obviously is not good for you.
Ii causes weight gain, sleepiness, low T, a bunch of other health problems.
Once diagnosed it is usually easy to treat.
Click on the pic at the right for a testimonial from a Good Old Boy about how OSA treatment works !
If you fall a sleep a lot during the day - like the guy in this pic - then you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Which obviously is not good for you.
Ii causes weight gain, sleepiness, low T, a bunch of other health problems.
Once diagnosed it is usually easy to treat.
Click on the pic at the right for a testimonial from a Good Old Boy about how OSA treatment works !
If you fall a sleep a lot during the day - like the guy in this pic - then you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
|
|
What are the effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea ?
Everything from car accidents to sudden death in your sleep.
Many night time sudden deaths may be triggered by strokes or heart attacks aggravated by OSA.
I see a lot of men who have "Low T" as a direct result of OSA
Many night time sudden deaths may be triggered by strokes or heart attacks aggravated by OSA.
I see a lot of men who have "Low T" as a direct result of OSA
How is Obstructive Sleep Apnea diagnosed ?
se first , and the most difficult part, is thinking of it.
After that there are a series of questions that help me to diagnose it.
And some associated physical examination findings.
And finally, some specialized testing.
Plus - as with a lot of medical conditions - we try treating it.
If the treatment changes your life, then you probably had the disease !
After that there are a series of questions that help me to diagnose it.
And some associated physical examination findings.
And finally, some specialized testing.
Plus - as with a lot of medical conditions - we try treating it.
If the treatment changes your life, then you probably had the disease !
Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Treatment
Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be very simple or very complicated.
Some people only have OSA if they sleep on their back.
We keep them from sleeping on their back ! Something as simple as a tennis ball sewn into the back of their pyjama top can keep them from sleeping on their back. ( Or a wife who diligently gives them the elbow ! )
Other pe0ple need some fancy gadgets.
Not everyone knows they have OSA
One one the quirks of OSA that many people are unaware that they have it. And some of them are doctors..
Case examples of OSA
The The Skinner Doctor
There was a skinny doctor that I worked with.
He developed ATTRIAL FIBRILLATION which is a synptom of OSA...
He developed ATTRIAL FIBRILLATION which is a synptom of OSA...
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP mask
CPAP is a mask that you wear at night. It uses mild air pressure to keep the airways open while you are asleep.
Just like mild airway pressure keeps the roof of BC Place from falling in.
Getting the right mask can be like buying a pair of shoes.
You may have to try a few to get the best fit for you.
An advantage is that you can try it out an tweak it a bit before you have to buy a device
Most local CPAP companies will rent you a mask to test drive for a few weeks.
Just like mild airway pressure keeps the roof of BC Place from falling in.
Getting the right mask can be like buying a pair of shoes.
You may have to try a few to get the best fit for you.
An advantage is that you can try it out an tweak it a bit before you have to buy a device
Most local CPAP companies will rent you a mask to test drive for a few weeks.
Mandibular Repositioning Device ( MRD )
This is like a boxing mouth guard.
You stick it in your mouth when you go to bed at night.
It holds your tongue and jaw a bit forward, and keeps your airway from blocking off.
These are custom made, by dentists, at dentist prices.
They are less annoying than CPAP, but because they are custom made you can't try them out.
You stick it in your mouth when you go to bed at night.
It holds your tongue and jaw a bit forward, and keeps your airway from blocking off.
These are custom made, by dentists, at dentist prices.
They are less annoying than CPAP, but because they are custom made you can't try them out.
Dentists in Vancouver who specialize in
"sleep dentistry"
Dr. Sharnell Muir snoredentist.ca
Dr. L Wayne Halstrom 604 876 8993 1 800 399 4659
"sleep dentistry"
Dr. Sharnell Muir snoredentist.ca
Dr. L Wayne Halstrom 604 876 8993 1 800 399 4659
Consequences of OSA
Logically it should decrease OSA related Cardiac Deaths....
But it may not do it...
SAVE: No CV Event Reduction With CPAP
But it may not do it...
SAVE: No CV Event Reduction With CPAP
Medical marijuana for treating
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ( OSA)
For information on medical marijuana generally, check out the page here.
A derivative of medical marijuana can be used to treat OSA.
The drug dronabinol is a synthetic type of marijuana that has been used for years for treating people with nausea from cancer. It does not have any of the psycho active effect that people associated with
Tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) , and can be useful for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
For a review article on using marijuana for treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, click here .....
A derivative of medical marijuana can be used to treat OSA.
The drug dronabinol is a synthetic type of marijuana that has been used for years for treating people with nausea from cancer. It does not have any of the psycho active effect that people associated with
Tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) , and can be useful for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
For a review article on using marijuana for treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, click here .....