Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) is caused when soft tissues in the throat relax, reducing the size of the airway and increasing the effort required for breathing. These are exactly the same conditions that cause OSA. While the symptoms and the condition are not as severe, UARS is still a serious medical condition, and left untreated can progress to OSA.

Common symptoms of UARS:

• Snoring, often loud and disruptive
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Fatigue
• Daytime sleepiness
• Chronic insomnia
• Frequent awakenings
• Low blood pressure
• Temporomandibular disorder (“TMJ”) and fibromyalgia

UARS restricts airflow during sleep like OSA, but the level of resistance is lower than what is required for a diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. UARS can cause awakenings and interrupt the sleep cycle, leading to many of the same symptoms as OSA. It also has been associated with temporomandibular disorder (“TMJ”) and other chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, particularly in females. The good news is that the same oral appliances that are used to treat OSA are effective in treating most patients with UARS. If you have a diagnosis of UARS or suspect that you may have it based on your symptoms, contact High Country Dentistry for a complimentary screening today.