Sleep Apnea Expert in Torrance

About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Approximately 25 million adults in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can cause them to stop

breathing hundreds of times a night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute.

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse

and block the airway. As a result, repeated breathing pauses occur, which often reduce your oxygen levels. These

breathing pauses are followed by brief awakenings that disturb your sleep.

Common signs of sleep apnea include snoring, fatigue and gasping or choking sounds during sleep. Like snoring,

sleep apnea is more common in men, but it can occur in women too, especially during and after menopause. Having

excess body weight, a narrow airway or misaligned jaw all increase the risk of sleep apnea.

Is Treating OSA Important?

Treating obstructive sleep apnea is incredibly important to your health. When left untreated, sleep apnea often

causes excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue, as well as morning headaches and memory loss. Sleep apnea also

is a threat to your safety as it increases your risk of drowsy driving and workplace accidents. Untreated sleep apnea

raises your risk for serious health problems. These include:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Chronic acid reflux
• Erectile dysfunction

Severe, untreated sleep apnea even increases your risk of death.

How is OSA Diagnosed?

A doctor must determine if you have obstructive sleep apnea. A doctor who is a sleep specialist can provide you with

a complete sleep evaluation. This may involve either an overnight sleep study at a sleep center or a home sleep test.

The sleep specialist will interpret the data from your sleep study to make a diagnosis and treatment

recommendations.

How is OSA Treated?

Your sleep doctor will discuss treatment options with you. These options include continuous positive airway pressure

(CPAP) therapy, oral appliance therapy and surgery.

•  CPAP therapy involves wearing a face mask connected by tubing to a constantly running machine.
•  Oral appliance therapy uses a mouth guard-like device – worn only during sleep – to maintain an open, unobstructed airway.
•  Surgical options include a variety of procedures. All have varying side effects and rates of success.

Research shows that oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

An oral appliance is worn in the mouth only while you sleep and fits like a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic

retainer. Oral appliances support your jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway.

Many patients consider a sleep apnea appliance to be more comfortable to wear than a CPAP mask. Oral appliances

also are quiet, portable and easy to care for.

More than 100 oral appliances have received FDA clearance. Dr. Paul Grin will recommend the device that is best for

you. Oral appliance therapy is covered by many medical insurance plans.

Get Help

Talk to Dr. Grin about treatment options for snoring and sleep apnea. Ask if oral appliance therapy might be the right

solution for you. Get help today to improve your sleep and your general health!

90503 Sleep Apnea Expert

4305 Torrance Boulevard, Suite 505
Torrance, CA, 90503
310-933-3077