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Is Snoring Hurting Your Relationship?

May 15, 2014

Shutterstock Sleep Apnea SnoringLoud snoring is a common issue that leads to problems between bed partners, often sending the hapless offender out of the room to spend the remainder of the night on the couch. Couples frequently argue over snoring and both parties typically get less restful sleep after all is said and done. Is snoring causing a rift between you and your partner? At the office of Dr. Gary M. Radz in Denver, CO, our team helps patients with excessive snoring find a sleep apnea treatment plan that fits their lifestyle.
Snoring: More Than Just a Nuisance
While the sounds of snoring are certainly obtrusive, the underlying cause of this annoying noise may actually be of more concern than many people understand. The sound we associate with snoring is actually caused by the vibration of air through the passages formed by soft tissues in the nose, mouth, and throat. When these soft tissues obstruct proper airflow during sleep, the patient may experience a lapse in breathing. This is known as sleep apnea.
Not all people who snore suffer from sleep apnea, but because the disorder itself is considered potentially dangerous to health, disruptive snoring should be evaluated by a qualified professional. If sleep apnea is the reason for your snoring, sleep apnea therapy from Dr. Radz can help.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
If you or your partner frequently experiences loud, excessive snoring and it is creating problems in your relationship, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are ways we can help. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Radz and our experienced, compassionate team today. We look forward to showing you what a difference sleep apnea therapy can make in your daily life. Our conveniently located office proudly serves patients from throughout Denver, as well as the surrounding areas of Aurora, Englewood, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial, and more.

The Future of Sleep Apnea Therapy Could Be Very Different, But Until Then…

January 16, 2014

In our last post, we listed some of the common problems faced by patients who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat sleep apnea. Some of those reasons included dry mouth, congestion, and feelings of claustrophobia.
Because of these and other reasons, only 46-83% of patients using CPAP actually wear their mask, according to a recent New York Times article published this month. But in the future, maybe no one will have to wear a mask at all. The same article notes that a device called a neurostimulator may offer help by stimulating “a nerve in the jaw, helping to keep part of the upper airway open” in sleep apnea patients. The device is implanted in the chest and is compared by the writer to a pacemaker.
In the recently completed study on the device, 126 patients were given a neurostimulator, which they could active at night. The device works specifically by sending “regular electric impulses to a nerve inside the jaw,” which moves the tongue forward when the patient breathes in.
In the results, it was found that breathing cessation dropped dramatically while blood oxygen levels increased.
Neurostimulators haven’t yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, though. So until we know more about this very promising device, the best alternative to CPAP will be an oral appliance.
For years, Dr. Radz has been using oral appliance therapy to help patients from Denver and all surrounding areas sleep peacefully and stop snoring. This simple alternative uses a custom-made mouthpiece to adjust the position of the tongue and lower jaw, keeping airways open so breathing throughout the night is easy.
Is oral appliance therapy right for you? Call Dr. Radz’s Denver office today to schedule a consultation. We serve patients from Englewood, Aurora, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial, and other nearby communities.

10 Reasons to Consider Oral Appliance Therapy

December 17, 2013

CPAPOral appliance therapy is rapidly replacing CPAP as the primary way sleep apnea is treated. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure and uses a machine to pump air to your lungs while you’re asleep. For many patients, treatment with CPAP has been effective, but that’s not the case for everyone who tries it.
Below are 10 common problems that patients can have with CPAP—and alternatively, 10 reasons why you should learn everything you can about oral appliance therapy:

  • Skin irritation around the CPAP mask
  • Dry mouth
  • Congestion, sneezing, or nosebleeds
  • Bloating
  • Difficulty wearing a mask while asleep
  • Feelings of claustrophobia
  • Problems sleeping due to noise
  • Machine is keeping a partner awake
  • Dry or sore eyes
  • Mask leaks

Not every patient will struggle with these problems, but for those who do, an alternative is in order. At Dr. Radz’s Denver office, we’re happy to explain how oral appliance therapy works. If it looks like oral appliance therapy is the best solution for your particular needs, we can start collecting all the information we’ll need to have your customized mouthpiece fabricated.
Don’t let this common but under-diagnosed condition ruin your life. Call us today to schedule an appointment. Dr. Radz is happy to offer effective oral appliance therapy to patients from Denver, Englewood, Aurora, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial, and beyond.

What Causes Snoring?

November 13, 2013

One of the most common sleep problems that people can face is snoring. It’s not uncommon for family members to tease each other about another’s snoring, but sometimes it’s no laughing matter. Not only can relationships be strained by severe snoring, it can also be a sign of a larger problem—sleep apnea. Thankfully, the causes of snoring aren’t a mystery, and treatment is possible.
The Most Common Cause
In many cases, the cause of snoring can be tied to obstruction. In other words, the tongue, jaw, or the mouth’s soft tissues have relaxed to the point that the patient’s airways are blocked. The sound that you hear when someone snores is the sound of air noisily passing through the body to the lungs. That same obstruction is also what causes sleep apnea patients to stop breathing during sleep.
At Dr. Gary Radz’s office, we offer oral appliances to help patients treat both their snoring and their sleep apnea symptoms. An oral appliance is a custom-made device designed to fit over the patient’s upper and lower teeth, repositioning the jaw and tongue so that they don’t block the throat. For many patients, an oral appliance is the treatment of choice for both sleep problems and snoring.
Give Us a Call
Is snoring and sleep apnea getting in the way of your health or your relationships? Call Dr. Radz’s Denver office today for a consultation. During your visit Dr. Radz will help you understand your needs and find a treatment solution. We serve patients from Inglewood, Aurora, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial, and all surrounding areas.