UARS
What is Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome?
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome is a sleep disorder that involves strained breathing during sleep due to upper airway obstruction from soft tissue, fatty deposits or the tongue.
While we are awake, the muscles and tissues that form the airway are naturally tense for effective breathing, and our tongue stays in the correct position, ready to help with speaking or swallowing. When we sleep, our entire body relaxes.
For the sleeping UARS patient, the relaxed soft tissue loses firmness and makes the airway passage smaller, or, the tongue may become loose and fall back into the airway, creating a partial obstruction.
UARS is often described as trying to “breathe through a straw”; the restricted airway only allows a limited amount of air to pass through, forcing the respiratory muscles to work harder with each breath. The patient may wake up briefly several times during the night when the brain senses the exertion of breathing (the patient may not remember waking up at all the next day).
From Snoring to Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Airway obstruction during sleep is a shared cause of a group of sleep breathing disorders:
Snoring
Like UARS, snoring is also related to a partially obstructed airway during sleep. As the patient breathes, the moving air flow causes loose tissue blocking the airway to vibrate and produce sound.
Obstructive Hypopnea
Obstructive hypopnea is linked to partial airway obstruction that results in intervals of shallow breathing during sleep. Snoring is common with obstructive hypopnea, and shallow breathing can lead to reduced blood oxygen levels. Obstructive hypopnea may be combined with obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Obstructive sleep apnea is a harmful sleep breathing disorder that is also caused by airway obstruction. In the case of the OSA patient, the airway becomes fully blocked and the patient stops breathing multiple times during the night. OSA is generally characterized by loud snoring, followed by silence (when breathing stops) and a gasp for air as the brain tells the body to wake up and breathe.
UARS patients do not always develop obstructive sleep apnea, however, studies indicate that patients with upper airway resistance syndrome are at greater risk of developing OSA.
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome Symptoms
- Along with the feeling of restrained breathing during sleep, the most common symptom of UARS is excessive daytime drowsiness.
- UARS patients may also experience insomnia or chronic fatigue due to restless sleep.
- UARS patients may or may not snore, and are not necessarily overweight (as is common with obstructive sleep apnea).
Treatment for Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome
As with other sleep breathing disorders, treatment for Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome is focused on maintaining the airway to allow proper air flow during sleep.
Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight can help improve airway health. Limiting alcohol intake before bed and avoiding sedatives may help prevent the airway tissues and tongue from becoming overly relaxed and falling into the airway.
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is the ‘gold standard’ recommended by physicians for treatment of UARS and other sleep breathing disorders. The CPAP system provides a steady flow of mildly pressurized air that the patient breathes in through a face mask during sleep. The incoming air pressure pushes back on soft tissue to help keep it from falling and blocking the airway.
CPAP is considered to be a highly effective treatment, however some patients are not able to tolerate wearing the mask or have side effects (sore throat, dry mouth, sinus problems). Learn more about CPAP intolerance.
UARS Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy is a common treatment option for mild to moderate UARS cases or for patients that are unable to tolerate CPAP. A sleep physician prescribes the oral appliance, and Athens sleep dentist Dr. Phillip Durden works with the UARS patient to design the removable appliance.
An oral sleep appliance is removable and looks like a bite guard. The oral appliance is worn during sleep to keep the palatal tissue and tongue in place, as well as shift the lower jaw slightly forward to aid in keeping the airway open. Learn more about oral appliance therapy.
Surgical Treatment for Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome
Surgery is sometimes necessary to manage UARS; the surgeon and physician may recommend surgical treatment to address enlarged tonsils or excess airway tissue that may be blocking the airway or making it smaller.
Dental Sleep Medicine of Athens
Dr. Phillip Durden has practiced general and cosmetic dentistry in the Athens area since 1989. Over the years, he has expanded his dental practice to include oral appliance therapy for treatment of Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome and sleep breathing disorders.
In 2020, Dr. Durden acquired Dental Sleep Medicine of Athens. Our practice works with local medical professionals to assist patients with sleep disordered breathing and TMJ symptoms.
Your quality of life is directly affected by the quality of your sleep. If you have questions about Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome or CPAP intolerance, please talk with your doctor or Contact the Dental Sleep Medicine of Athens Team.