Overcoming upper airway resistance syndrome starts with a visit to the dentist

Do you feel like you sleep enough hours, yet wake tired and fuzzy headed, like you hardly slept? You may think you have insomnia or an elevated stress level, but you could be suffering from UARS – upper airway resistance syndrome. Dr. Mark Cruz helps patients in the Dana Point area get better sleep, with orthotropics.

Is it UARS or OSA?

UARS is a sleep disorder where relaxed muscles constrict the airway. Breathing becomes labored, and interrupts deep sleep many times during the night. While UARS shares some characteristics, such as audible snoring, with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), there are distinctions:

• Most people with OSA are overweight. Those with UARS are often of normal weight.
• The airway of a person with UARS is typically smaller than average, due to genetics.
• UARS does not cause pauses in breathing.
• The incidence of UARS is equal in men and women, (males are twice as likely as females to have OSA).

Patients who do not receive effective treatment for UARS can develop OSA, risking the many dangerous health effects associated with that condition.

Breathing easier with orthotropics

The common non-CPAP approach to treating OSA is to simply hold the mouth open for greater air flow. Dr. Cruz finds better results for UARS patients through orthotropics.

Orthotropics is a technique that includes an oral appliance. It teaches the patient to keep the mouth closed during sleep, so that air flows naturally through the nose. Your body allows mouth breathing for emergencies, but it is clearly designed for nose breathing. Inhaling and exhaling through nasal passages is the healthiest way to receive oxygen and dispel carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Do you think you may have UARS – upper airway resistance syndrome? Are looking for a natural, long-term solution? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Cruz, his number is (949) 661-1006.