Sleep Apnea | Allure Blog

Hypoventilation occurs commonly with obesity, chronic pulmonary disorders like COPD, and neuromuscular diseases impacting respiratory muscles. It can happen while awake or during sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) involves repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep, leading to reduced or paused breathing.

Sleep disordered breathing involves intermittent reductions in airflow or respiratory effort during sleep. These disturbances are characterized as apneas, hypopneas, or respiratory effort-related arousals (RERAs).

Central hypopnea occurs when there is reduction in the neural drive to breathe during sleep. This leads to decreases in tidal volume and respiratory rate. Several factors can impair the brain's regulation of breathing or cause instability in ventilatory control

Central apneas often occur following arousal from sleep and are associated with REM sleep. The pattern of breathing in central apnea is cyclical with ventilatory drive returning periodically. Blood oxygen levels typically drop during the events due to lack of airflow.

Difficulty breathing during sleep, or sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), prevents restorative rest. Among SDB conditions, hypopnea causes frequent disruptive arousals and impaired sleep quality.

Millions of Americans would like to lose weight, and there are tried and true methods that work to some degree but are not so good for many people. If we could find a way to not gain extra weight in the first place, problem solved, right?

Snoring may be loud and disruptive to your bed partner, but how does it affect you? Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a term that includes habitual snoring and ranges to obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is when you have an obstruction of the airway that cuts off the air supply for at least 10 seconds, reduces your blood oxygen by at least 3%, and at least 5 times per hour.

Sleep is necessary for health and well-being, and we are now learning that good sleep is associated with longevity and good health. Snoring is associated with poorer sleep, not only for the person snoring but frequently for their bed partner as well.

It is estimated that about half of the American adult population has some degree of sleep apnea. We know that sleep disorder leads to weight gain, and weight gain leads to worsening sleep apnea. Dr. Charles Mok of Allure Medical talks about NightLase® and how it can treat sleep apnea and in turn, help people lose weight and lead healthier lives.

50-70 million US adults have a sleep disorder, and the most severe form of sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, is detrimental to your health and longevity. Studies on a new laser treatment, NightLase®, have shown that sleep apnea is reversible.

Snoring can be annoying for the bed partner, and unknown to the offender. Other than the offensive sound of snoring, why worry?