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Sleep interruptions are a problem for many, and an annoyance for some who snore. But snoring can also be indicative of a more serious health problem—sleep apnea.

When you breathe normally, air flows freely through your lungs. For people who snore, though, the relaxation of the muscles causes the jaw and tongue to move back and block the air passage. That can limit the flow of oxygen to a person’s lungs, heart and brain. Resumption of normal breathing doesn’t happen until the person awakens from sleep and the tongue and throat tissue regain their tension.

Within a short period of time this process will repeat itself. A person may wake up several hundred times during an eight-hour sleep period. This can lead to chronic fatigue as well as other major health problems.

There are generally three ways to treat snoring and sleep apnea: 1) A CPAP machine that forces air down the passageway with a tube and a mask—for many all this does is replace one sleep distraction with another, because the machine can be noisy, uncomfortable and cumbersome; 2) Surgery, which will cut off excess tissue and muscles that obstruct the air passageway. Surgery is both expensive and irreversible; or 3) Oral appliances that comfortably reposition the lower jaw forward while you sleep, thus opening the airway by moving the tongue forward and tightening the muscle in the back of the throat.

The American Sleep Association (ASA) consults with board-certified dentists and doctors to fit a person with sleep apnea with a custom-fit oral appliance that’s FDA-approved. After confirming a diagnosis, the ASA will send you an impression kit and instructions. After getting back your impressions, the ASA will use them to create a custom, FDA-approved oral appliance for sleep apnea and snoring. Then, you just pop in the mouthpiece each night and go to sleep. The entire process is easy and hassle-free, and can be performed in the comfort of your home. Shipping is free, so you pay only your deductible.

According to the Department of Health, 80 percent of CPAP users questioned preferred the option of an oral appliance to the inconvenience of a CPAP machine for their snoring and sleep apnea.

Visit http://www.americansleepassociation.com and go down to the box that says “Click to Pre-Qualify” and get started on a road to better, sounder sleep.