Sleep Apnea in Houston
How Loud Do You Snore?
Snoring occurs when soft tissues vibrate in your upper airway while you sleep
Snoring is more common in men, but women can snore too
Smoking and alcohol use can attribute to snoring and it’s also more common as weight increases or when you have trouble breathing through your nose
Snoring can be a sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) but can also occur on its own. Not all snorers have OSA
Snoring, sleep apnea and sleep deprivation are very common in the U.S.
Approximately 40% adult men and 24% adult women snore
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
OSA happens when soft tissue around the airway relaxes and collapses during sleep
When the airway muscles relax, they can then collapse and block the airway
OSA can cause you to stop breathing hundreds of times per night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute. This can cause you to wake up many times without you even realizing it
Beyond fatigue, this constant sleep interruption can lead to many health problems.
Some common health problems associated with OSA including diabetes, heart disease, cognitive issues, impaired immune system
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)
An oral appliance is a two- piece device worn in the mouth only during sleep. It fits like a mouth guard on both upper and lower teeth.
OAT advances the lower jaw forward during sleep; hence, keep the airway open.
What is NightLase® Snoring and Apnea Treatment?
NightLase treatment results in a more open airway, thus lessening the effects of snoring and sleep apnea.
NightLase® Treatment is a patented, fast, non-invasive and friendly way of increasing the quality of a patient's sleep. NightLase® lessens the effects of sleep apnea and decreases the amplitude of snoring through the use of gentle, superficial Er:YAG laser light. No anesthesia is used in this treatment.
How does NightLase® Treatment work?
During NightLase® treatment laser light heats the tissue, causing tightening of the tissue which leads to an attenuation of the sound of the patients snoring and a lessening of the effects of sleep apnea. The procedure is performed in two simple steps.
Step 1: PRECONDITIONING - The laser light preheats the tissue.
Step 2: TISSUE STRENGTHENING - Laser light strengthens the tissue.
A full course of NightLase® treatment is comprised of three separate treatment sessions over a six week period. The final result of the treatment has been shown to last from six months to a year.
