Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that happens when a person’s breathing is disturbed during sleep. People with undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea stop breathing normally and repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. This means the brain — and the rest of the body — may not get enough oxygen.
The word “apnea” literally means “without breath.” There are three types of apnea.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Is the most common and is caused by a blockage of the airway, when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.
- Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Is when the brain fails to signal the muscles for breathing due to disturbances in the respiratory control center in brain.
- Mixed Sleep Apnea: Is a mixture of the two.
The SNORE GUARD appliance helps reduce airway turbulence and stops snoring. These custom sleep apnea mouthpieces are very effective in treating patients with mild or moderate sleep apnea.