File:Clinical Update Vol. 23, No. 12 (IA 01012ObstructiveSleepApnea).pdf

Obstructive sleep apnea
Lieutenant Commander Donald A. Lonergan, DC, USN and Captain Scott A. Synnott, DC, USN

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a clinical subtype of Upper Airway Sleep Disorders (UASD). Sleep apnea is a serious and potentially life threatening disorder. Clinical features of the disorder include excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, headaches, snoring, abnormal motor activity during sleep, intellect and personality changes, hypertension, cor pulmonale, heart failure, and polycythemia. Snoring is the mild form of UASD; OSA is the severe form. Ac-cording to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders research report, it has been estimated that snoring affects up to 25% of males, OSA occurs in approximately 2-4% of the American population.

UASD’s are generally the result of a condition that causes partial or complete obstruction of the airway when the patient assumes a supine position and goes to sleep. Treatment of UASD is a multidisciplinary team approach. Increased numbers of patients are now being referred to dentists for treatment using re-movable oral devices. This clinical update presents an overview of the anatomical, diagnostic and current treatment aspects of OSA.