Allentown Pain Center

Obstructive sleep disorders are part of a continuum that begins with snoring and ends with severe obstructive sleep apnea. 

Treatment of snoring may be more important than simply helping the sleep partner.  Recent studies have linked even simple snoring with heart disease.  More severe obstructions have been correlated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and daytime sleepiness associated with work and car accidents.  Ninety percent of those with obstructive disorders are NOT diagnosed. Snoring is not, therefore, a “social” nuisance, but can indeed represent a real health hazard. 

The diagnosis should be done by a physician with a full lab study completed in a sleep lab, but a screening home device is available for those who would prefer a home test to determine if a full polysomnogram was necessary.  Treatment falls into three categories.  Most commonly physicians will prescribe the use of CPAP – continuous positive airway pressure.  While this is a very effective way to combat the collapse of the airway that leads to snoring and apnea, many patients find its use inconvenient or intolerable.  Surgery can sometimes be successful, but it is not predictable or usually successful.  The oral appliance tends to be successful for some patients.  People tend to prefer the oral appliance as compared to CPAP, and in many cases, the oral appliance can be as effective.  The Academy of Sleep Medicine’s policy states that the oral appliance can be the first line of treatment in certain cases if the patient prefers to for some reason to bypass CPAP usage.  The policy also states that oral appliance therapy is appropriate for those who cannot use or do not want to use CPAP.

The Allentown Pain Center will want to have a full copy of your sleep study if you have already been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, and our office will arrange to have the study faxed to us from your sleep center. 

If you are interested in more information feel free to call the Allentown Pain Center or speak to your physician and get a referral to a sleep center for an evaluation.   You can tell your physician about your interest in oral appliances.

Snoring is not a laughing matter; and treatment may make a major difference in the quality of your life and those who love you.