Have you been feeling extra tired lately?

Are you having sleep problems? Are people complaining about your loud snoring? Like millions of other Americans, you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. This condition causes you to stop breathing while you are asleep. As a result, people who suffer from this are interrupted from their sleep constantly.

Sleep apnea is usually linked to illnesses like coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and blood sugar problems such as diabetes. Since it makes your heart work extra hard at night (blood oxygen levels lower when breathing stops, hence making the heart work harder to circulate more oxygen), sleep apnea can cause many heart problems - even strokes.

The usual treatment for sleep apnea is the use of a nasal CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. The patient basically puts a nasal mask on, which then provides constant flow of air; therefore facilitating free and easy breathing throughout the night. If this does not work, oral surgery is another option for people suffering from sleep apnea.

There are several surgical options, all depending on the nature of obstruction. One is called UPPP or uvulo-palato-pharyngo-plasty. In this procedure, the surgeon opens up breathing passages by making changes to the soft palate and throat. Another option is the use of radio-frequency to tighten the soft palate. For more serious conditions, patients will have to stay in the hospital for a day or two to undergo orthognatic surgery wherein changes are made to the structure of the jaw.

End the sleepless nights now! If you live in the Charlotte NC area, you can have your sleep apnea treated by Dr. Kevin Bond of Southpark Oral Surgery. All you need to do is to schedule a consultation so he can give you the proper treatment.