Every sleep dentist has patients who include chronic nasal congestion and/or post nasal drip on their list of complaints. More often than not, the patient suffers from chronic rhinitis. This condition can play a prominent role as a cause of snoring and sleep apnea.
If you wake up every morning needing to hack up lots of thick mucous or have throat pain, hoarseness, or a chronic cough, you're not alone.
For five years, researchers followed 971 patients who had sleep apnea and 4,855 who did not. The researchers found that less than 7% of those with sleep apnea were later diagnosed with sinusitis. Of those without sleep apnea, only 2% also developed sinusitis.
Chronic nasal congestion.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs twice as often in those who have consistent nasal congestion at night, regardless of the cause.
Adjust the temperature, keep it cool. Prop your head up with a pillow. And, avoid alcohol and other foods and beverages high in histamine, especially at night.
Postnasal drip has many causes, including allergies, infections, pregnancy, medications and GERD.
There is good news. Upper airway stimulation therapy using a hypoglossal nerve stimulator is an option for people who are unable to tolerate their CPAPs. It's been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Studies show that patients who develop sleep apnea before the age of fifty have a life expectancy between 8 and 18 years. Fortunately lifestyle changes, treatment, and other interventions can improve the life expectancy of someone with sleep apnea.
Even though the symptoms can be treated, usually with the help of oral appliances, CPAP machines, or other forms of sleep apnea therapy, the condition itself is chronic and cannot be cured entirely. This means that your best bet is mitigating the symptoms and making lifestyle changes to lessen its effect on you.
While there is no cure for sleep apnea, studies show that certain lifestyle factors can reverse or make your sleep apnea less intense. Other treatment or surgical options can also reverse the condition. Sleep apnea happens when your upper airway muscles relax while you sleep. This causes you to not get enough air.
The gold standard in sleep apnea testing is called polysomnography (PSG). During a polysomnogram, you are connected to sensors that track your eye and muscle movements, breathing, oxygen levels, heart rate, and body position. Most polysomnography also includes audio and video recording.
There are a couple of reasons people get chronic phlegm—acid reflux, post-nasal drip, and allergies can all contribute to the problem.
When mucus starts to build up or trickle down the back of the throat, this is known as postnasal drip. Causes of postnasal drip include infections, allergies, and acid reflux. As well as feeling the need to clear the throat frequently, a person with postnasal drip may also experience: a sore throat.
View Source for sleep apnea, there are other options that people with sleep apnea can discuss with their doctor. Potential alternatives to CPAP therapy include other positive airway pressure (PAP) machines, lifestyle changes, devices, and surgery.
As with obstructive sleep apnea, alternatives to CPAP may include other PAP devices like a BiPAP or ASV machine. The optimal device depends on the nature of your breathing patterns and what is causing your CSA. Implantable nerve stimulation may also be an alternative to CPAP therapy for central sleep apnea.
If you undergo surgery, it will take several days to recover. If you are using CPAP, it will take some time before you notice the positive effects of the treatment. Averagely, the effects will start showing around three months, and full recovery can be up to a year.
More than usual daytime sleepiness. Waking up with a dry throat or headache. Waking up often during the night. Difficulty concentrating or mood changes during the day.
Feeling Sick When You Wake Up
There are other signals your body is sending you that could mean you have sleep apnea. Things like waking up with a headache, a sore throat, or a dry mouth are all signs that your night's sleep wasn't as peaceful as it should have been.
Your condition could be more serious when the postnasal drip is accompanied by symptoms such as: Extreme difficulty breathing or swallowing. A lump in or on the throat or neck. Sores inside your nose that won't heal.
In addition to recommending a rinse or spray product, I typically prescribe Flonase®, azelastine, Atrovent®, or some combination. For people with posterior drip and sinus issues, these sprays can be very helpful.