Video interview about sleep apnea

Jan. 31, 2011 - PRLog -- The Minnesota Craniofacial Center Midway treats obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, with simple and painless appliances worn inside the mouth.  These appliances provide an alternative to CPAP treatment with a nightstand machine and nose mask, which is inconvenient or uncomfortable for many patients. The appliances are easy to wear and to care for, and they are extremely portable. For that reason they are ideal for use when a sleep patient is going camping where there is no electricity, traveling abroad where electricity standards differ, or just taking a short trip and aiming to travel light.

Sleep apnea is a serious problem that occurs when someone effectively holds his or her breath for short periods in the night, and then abruptly begins breathing again. As a result of this pattern, sufferers do not get enough oxygen during the night. This can lead to exhaustion during the day, headaches, memory loss, lowered energy levels, and feelings of depression or anxiety. Apnea has also been linked to heightened blood pressure, diabetes, heartburn, and cardiovascular disease.

Sleep problems can also pose a danger to others, particularly if the sufferer drives a car when he or she has not slept. Being awake for 18 hours is the equivalent loss of judgment to one alcoholic drink, while being awake for 24 hours produces the same lack of coordination and judgment as being intoxicated.

In particularly severe cases where even CPAP is not effective, oral appliances often can be combined with CPAP for double benefit. Surgery may be recommended in some OSA cases, especially when large tonsils or adenoids are involved.

Dr. Roy V. Hakala, DDS, who founded the Minnesota Craniofacial Center Midway, spoke about sleep apnea and its treatment in the summer of 2010 for the Minnesota-based health television program Knowledge for Wellness. The video has now been uploaded to the Internet and can be viewed below:


Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9xfFA2Wo5Q



Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz3rIMtg8HM

Learn more about MCCM's treatment for snoring and sleep apnea on our website, and call for a free 15-minute consultation: http://www.mncranio.com/snoring-sleep-apnea.htm.

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The Minnesota Craniofacial Center Midway is dedicated to the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of TMJ disorders and facial pain. We also treat obstructive sleep apnea with comfortable appliances that eliminate the need for mechanical CPAP machines.