Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Sleep Apnea?

The word apnea comes from the latin meaning, “without breath” Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s breathing becomes very shallow or stops completely for short durations while sleeping, and can occur hundreds of times throughout the night.

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Me?

Untreated sleep apnea can wreak havoc on your body. Untreated sleep apnea can cause morning headaches, day time fatigue, depression, hypertension and gerd. It can also increase your chances for developing diabetes, periodontitis, and cardiovascular disease leading to increased risk for stroke, developing cancer, and heart failure. Studies have shown that untreated sleep apnea can shorten your lifespan by 10-20 years.

Is Sleep Deprivation Harmful To My Health?

Sleep apnea can disrupt a patient’s deep sleep cycle, causing persistent sleep deprivation. Not only can this make a person feel tired and fatigued throughout the day, it can also lead to increased risk for high blood pressure, depression, headaches, ADHD symptoms, diabetes, stroke, and heart failure.

Why Do I Snore?

Unless a patient is suffering from sinus or nasal congestion, snoring is a symptom of a collapsed or obstructed airway. The soft palate and collapsed tissues in the back of the throat can vibrate as air passes through it. It is this vibrating tissue that produces the sound of snoring. Common causes are large tonsils, sleeping position, alcohol consumption, excess weight around the neck, or sleeping pills and muscle relaxers. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep disorders, UARS (upper airway resistance syndrome) and OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). These disorders cause sleep deprivation and lead to increased headaches, migraines, heartburn, and an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

How Do I Stop Snoring?

At-home treatments for snoring include regular exercise, weight loss, and avoiding sleeping pills, alcohol, and sedatives before going to bed. However, if these treatments fail to resolve a patient’s snoring or if you are unsure if you are still snoring, you should contact us today for a complimentary sleep evaluation.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

The 4 main treatment options for patients with obstructive sleep apnea are: oral appliance therapy, CPAP, surgery, and the inspire implant. Sleep Matters LLC will review your sleep study and the recommendations provided by a board certified sleep physician to help you select the best treatment option that best meets your needs.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a patient’s throat muscles relax and obstruct airflow, interrupting the natural breathing cycle.

What Is Central Sleep Apnea?

More uncommon than obstructive sleep apnea, this type of disorder is also more dangerous. Central sleep apnea is a condition in which the patient’s muscles do not receive the signals that monitor breathing movement.

What is CPAP Therapy?

CPAP, stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Using a mask, the CPAP machine presses air through the nose and mouth and into the lungs. The consistent air pressure prevents the airway from collapsing, allowing the sleeping patient to take deep, uninterrupted breaths. However, some patients react negatively to CPAP therapy, because for many people, a CPAP machine can cause extreme discomfort. Sleep Matters offers comfortable effective alternatives for people who are CPAP-intolerant. Call us today for a complimentary consultation if you are struggling with your CPAP.

What is Oral Appliance Therapy?

Oral Appliance Therapy effectively and comfortably treats obstructive sleep apnea through custom fitted oral appliances that reposition the jaw in a precise way preventing the airway from collapsing. The most common appliance is a MRD or mandibular repositioning device. Sleep Matters is able to offer a variety of different oral appliances to custom fit our patients for maximum comfort and effectiveness.

Do you accept my medical insurance?

Sleep Matters will work closely with your medical insurance to ensure we minimize your cost. We will perform a complimentary verification of your benefits and we can provide flexible payment options if needed. Our mission is to ensure that all of our patients can breath easy.