All About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes interruptions in breathing while you sleep. It can occur more than 30 times per night, leading to pauses in normal breathing, gasping, and frequent waking. Common symptoms include waking up with headaches, feeling tired and foggy during the day, and, of course, excessive snoring, which may disturb your partner’s sleep.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The most common form, caused by the collapse of tissues in the back of the throat, which blocks the airway during sleep.
- Central Sleep Apnea: Caused by a disruption in communication between the brain and muscles, leading to breathing problems during sleep.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
What Are the Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment?
A good night’s sleep is crucial for emotional and physical well-being. While you may not always remember waking up during the night, sleep apnea disrupts your sleep cycle, which can have short-term and long-term impacts on your health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Besides finally getting restful sleep, here are some key benefits of sleep apnea treatment:
Better Physical Health
Treating sleep apnea reduces the risk of conditions like high blood pressure, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, liver issues, and stress on your metabolic system. It can also reduce the additional risks that come with surgery or medication.
Improved Cognitive Function
Many sleep apnea sufferers wake up feeling groggy and experience brain fog during the day. Treatment helps improve focus, mental clarity, and energy levels, allowing you to feel more alert and like yourself again.
Strengthened Relationships
Treating sleep apnea benefits both you and your partner. Reducing snoring and nighttime restlessness lets your partner sleep more soundly, leading to improved moods in the morning. This results in better interactions at work, home, and in personal relationships. A good night’s sleep can make your whole day more enjoyable.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
There are several treatments available for sleep apnea, depending on the cause and severity of your condition. It’s important to find a solution that works with your lifestyle.
Lifestyle Changes
For mild cases of sleep apnea, making lifestyle changes can be an effective way to manage the condition. Your dentist may recommend several adjustments, including losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills, changing your sleeping position, following proper sleep hygiene, and quitting smoking. These changes are safe, effective, and are often used alongside other treatments to improve overall results.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP therapy is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. A mask is worn over the nose and/or mouth while sleeping, connected to a machine that delivers a steady stream of air to keep the airways open, ensuring normal breathing. Different masks and machines are available for comfort and effectiveness.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances, similar to mouthguards, can be worn during sleep to alleviate sleep apnea symptoms. These devices may help reduce snoring, reposition the jaw to keep the airway clear, or stabilize the tongue, depending on the cause of your sleep apnea.
Surgery and Medication
In some cases, surgery or medication may be necessary. Surgical options include correcting a deviated septum, widening a narrow throat, or adjusting the jaw to relieve airway blockages.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep apnea symptoms often include difficulty achieving deep, restful sleep and the negative effects that follow. Common signs are loud snoring, silent pauses in breathing, and waking up gasping for air. Individuals may also need to use the bathroom frequently at night and wake up feeling unsatisfied with their sleep. During the day, they may experience headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, memory issues, brain fog, and a decrease in sexual desire.
There are several possible causes of sleep apnea. In adults, the most common form is obstructive sleep apnea, often linked to excess weight or obesity. However, determining the exact cause or type requires an examination by a professional.
Although you may not remember waking up, sleep apnea can cause your brain to briefly awaken you to reopen your airway when you experience a lack of oxygen. These awakenings are usually so brief that you don’t recall them the next day, but they can occur 30 times or more each night, leaving you feeling groggy in the morning.
You may be at increased risk of sleep apnea if you’re overweight, male, have a family history of sleep apnea or poor sleep quality, use alcohol or sleeping pills, smoke, or suffer from nasal congestion. Sleep apnea is also more common in older adults.
Research suggests that sleeping on your side (lateral position) is the most effective for relieving sleep apnea and reducing snoring.
Yes, while most individuals with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight, sleep apnea can affect individuals of all body types. Various causes can contribute to the disorder, meaning even people who are thin can develop sleep apnea.
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