RANA-Medical is a leader in the treatment of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Our team of medical professionals includes Respiratory Physicians, Respiratory Therapists and Dentists specializing in snoring and sleep apnea. As a committed team, we can help you choose the appropriate treatment to help you achieve a happier, healthier and more active lifestyle.

Clinic Locations

Calgary North

Provident Professional Building
109-4616 Valiant Drive NW
Calgary, AB T3A 0X9

Phone: (403) 250-5674
Fax: (403) 250-3055

For a map, click here

Calgary South

Southport Atrium
Suite 100 - 10333 Southport Road SW
Calgary, Alberta T2W 3X6

Phone: (403) 250-5674
Fax: (403) 250-3055

For a map, click here

How common is snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

What causes snoring?

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

What are the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

What are the consequences of not treating snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

How will I know if I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

What are the treatment options for snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

If I want to be evaluated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and/or have my snoring treated, what do I do?

Where can I go for more information about Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

How common is snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

A review of current medical research indicates that up to 65% of adults snore!

As we grow older, the chance that we will snore increases and our snoring will also be more severe. Although snoring appears to be more common in men, we know that most women that snore do not talk about it, which may explain the lower percentage of snoring women.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects 4% of men and 2% of women -- approximately 2 million Canadians!

80-90% of sleep apneics who suffer with daytime symptoms remain undiagnosed. Most sleep apneics believe their symptoms are due to other stresses in their daily lives and therefore do visit their doctor with complaints about their symptoms.

What causes snoring?

Snoring is the sound of partially obstructed breathing during sleep. Snoring is caused by a change in the flow of air going through your airway, which causes a vibration (noise) at the back of your throat. There are different types of snorers. A simple snorer just snores and is not troubled by any side effects. However, many snorers suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Snoring can occur for a variety of reasons:

• Structures in the back of your throat are large and prevent air from moving easily through your airway (large tongue; large tonsils; a long palate and uvula).
• Your airway is narrow and when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep, it prevents the flow of air from moving easily. A narrowed airway can result from excess fat deposit in your throat tissue.
• Your airway collapses when you sleep due to the force of gravity. Most snorers will snore more severely when they sleep on their back.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be a serious condition that affects the snorer (and often their bed partner). Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when a person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep (apnea). This is caused by the airway collapsing which prevents air from getting into the lungs. Apneas may last from 10-60 seconds and in extreme cases, may occur as frequently as every 30 seconds. When sleep is repeatedly disrupted by apneas, the OSA sufferer is deprived of the deepest, most restful stages of sleep. This lack of sleep affects daytime alertness and the ability to function normally throughout the day. Decreased oxygen levels and the continued lack of normal, restorative sleep takes its toll on the individual’s quality of life and can lead to serious health problems including high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure, if left untreated, puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

What are the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

• Daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Poor memory
• Mood disorders
• High blood pressure
• Loud snoring
• Choking or gasping events during sleep

• Snoring and its effects on a bed partner: Often spouses sleep in separate rooms, and going on vacations or business trips become very awkward.
• Poor performance on complex tasks and decreased short-term memory: This affects life at work and at home. Concentration and learning can be impaired.
• Work and vehicle-related accidents: People who suffer from OSA are 15 times more likely than the general public to be involved in a motor vehicle accident.
• Loss of daytime energy, morning headaches, weight gain, negative moodes and depression
• Impotency and decreased sex drive
  

Cardiovascular Consequences (Silent Killers):

• High blood pressure (hypertension) is a very real risk for people with sleep apnea. Approximately 50% of people suffering from OSA have hypertension. Leaving OSA untreated can make it worse because hypertension increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
• Heart arrhythmias may develop with the presence of OSA and become worse over time.
• OSA makes the heart and lungs work harder, adding unnecessary stress to the cardiovascular system.

How will I know if I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

In order to determine if you have OSA, you will need to be tested while you sleep. This can be easily done at home using a Portable Sleep Apnea Recorder. There are four sensors that you will be required to connect, prior to going to bed:

• One sensor will be attached to your finger and produces two signals, the amount of oxygen in your blood and your heart rate.
• A second sensor (a nasal cannula) is attached to the base of your nose. This sensor detects the rate of air flowing in and out of your lungs while you sleep.
• A third sensor is taped to the base of your neck. It records two signals, snoring sounds and body position (e.g. on your back or on your side)
• The fourth sensor is a belt that you wrap around your abdomen. It measures your breathing effort.
  

These four sensors will provide sufficient information about your sleep to determine if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. You will be taught how to connect the sensors and operate the portabe recorder during your sleep study class at our office. After your sleep study, a respiratory specialist will review your results with you. He will will discuss your treatment options and with his guidance, you will decided on the best therapy.

Take the sleepiness test (Epworth Sleepiness Scale)

Does your medical history indicate possible sleep apnea? (ANC Questionnaire)

What are the treatment options for snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Oral Appliances

A Mandibular Repositioning Device is a very effective choice to treat snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is a small, plastic device that is worn in your mouth to hold the mandible forward during sleep, preventing the tongue and soft tissue of the throat from collapsing into the airway. It is based on the same principle as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The airway must be opened to allow air to pass through the throat.

The device allows the patient to adjust the degree to which the mandible is held forward, simultaneously allowing maximum comfort and effectiveness.


Tongue Retaining Devices are not as popular as mandibular repositioning devices for the treatment of snoring and OSA, but do offer an advantage for those patients lacking an adequate number of teeth for a mandibular repositioner. Tongue retaining devices function by directly holding the tongue in a forward position by means of a suction bulb. When the tongue is in a forward position, the back of the tongue does not collapse during sleep and block the airway.

A dentist with specialized training in oral appliance therapy will determine if you are a candidate for an oral appliance and work with the team at RANA-Medical to ensure your oral appliance treatment is effective. In combination with your treatment, our staff will also counsel you on lifestyle changes that may also help to treat your Obstructive Sleep Apnea. These may include weight loss, regular sleep routine, changing of sleep position, avoidance of alcohol or smoking and/or relief of nasal congestion.

CPAP Therapy

The gold standard for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure -- pronounced see-PAP). CPAP treats OSA by applying gentle air pressure to your airway through a mask that fits over your nose. This inflates your airway to keep it open while you sleep, therefore preventing apnea and eliminating snoring. CPAP is considered to be a life-long therapy. It is a treatment, not a cure. If you stop using the CPAP, your symptoms will return.

The cost of Long Term CPAP Therapy varies, depending on the type of CPAP machine and mask you need. There are several options available to make CPAP affordable, all of which RANA-Medical can assist you with. Many private insurance plans have coverage for CPAP and we can assist you in pursuing this. For low-income families (annual income of less than $35,000.00/year), we also have a financial assistance program that is supported by one of our major CPAP suppliers, which allows us to reduce the cost of Long-Term CPAP therapy.

If I want to be evaluated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and/or have my snoring treated, what do I do?

You will first need to visit you doctor to discuss your symptoms. Your doctor will then forward a form to us at RANA-Medical requesting that we make arrangements with you to do a portable sleep test. Once we have this request, we will phone you to make an appointment at our office.

Where can I go for more information about Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

For more information about Obstructive Sleep Apnea, check out our Links page.

If you need additional information, please contact the RANA-Medical clinic location nearest you:

Alberta: (403) 250-5674
Manitoba: (204) 928-1400

** Note: RANA-Medical sleep products and services are not available for sale or export to the United States.