All About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes difficulty breathing while you sleep. This condition can disrupt your sleep cycle more than 30 times a night and is characterized by pauses in breathing, gasping for air, waking up with headaches, feeling foggy and tired during the day, and, most famously, excessive snoring that can keep your partner awake.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The most common form, caused by tissues in the back of the throat collapsing and blocking the airway during sleep.
- Central Sleep Apnea: Caused by a disruption in the communication between your brain and muscles, leading to a breathing disturbance.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
What Are the Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment?
It is well known that a good night’s sleep is vital for both emotional and physical well being. Even if you do not remember waking up during the night, sleep apnea can still disrupt your sleep cycle, affecting your health, relationships, and quality of life. Besides helping you finally get a good night’s sleep, what are some other benefits of treating sleep apnea?
Better Physical Health
Treating sleep apnea reduces your risk of high blood pressure, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, liver issues, and stress on your metabolic system. It can also alleviate the additional risks associated with surgery or drug therapy.
Feel Like Normal Again
Do you ever feel like you are forgetting something or cannot find the right words? Sleep apnea sufferers often report waking up feeling groggy and being stuck in a brain fog all day. With treatment, patients report feeling sharper, more focused, and like themselves again.
Strengthen Your Relationships
Treating sleep apnea is beneficial for both you and your partner. By reducing or eliminating snoring and restless sleep, your partner will also enjoy a more restful, uninterrupted night of sleep. Both of you will wake up in a better mood. Starting the day fresh makes everything from parenting to work more enjoyable, and your good mood can be contagious.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
There are various treatment options depending on the cause and severity of your sleep apnea. It’s important to find a solution that fits your lifestyle.
Lifestyle Changes
Mild cases of sleep apnea can often be treated at home. Your dentist may recommend losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills, adjusting your sleeping position, following good sleep hygiene practices, and quitting smoking. These changes are safe and effective and may even be used alongside other treatments.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. A mask is worn over the nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The mask is connected to a machine that delivers a constant stream of air, keeping your airways open so you can breathe normally. There are different types of masks and machines to suit your needs and comfort level.
Oral Appliances
These devices are worn in the mouth while sleeping and can help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms. They often resemble a mouthguard and work by repositioning the jaw to keep the airway clear, reduce snoring, or stabilize the tongue.
Surgery and Medication
In some cases, surgery or medication can treat sleep apnea. Common surgeries include repairing a deviated septum, widening a narrow throat or airway, or making adjustments to the jaw to relieve 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
The symptoms of sleep apnea are primarily related to difficulty achieving deep sleep, which affects overall health. A person with sleep apnea may experience:
- Frequent or loud snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking up choking or gasping for air
- Frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom
- Waking up feeling dissatisfied with sleep
During the day, common symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Memory loss or brain fog
- A decrease in sexual desire
There are various causes of sleep apnea. In adults, the most common form is obstructive sleep apnea, often linked to excess weight and obesity. You cannot determine the exact cause of your sleep apnea without being examined by a professional.
Even though you may not remember waking up, sleep apnea causes you to briefly rouse from sleep to open your airway. These awakenings are so brief that you may not recall them, but you may experience them 30 times or more each night. This disruption leads to waking up feeling groggy the next morning.
You may be at an increased risk of sleep apnea if you:
- Are overweight
- Are male
- Have a family history of sleep apnea or poor sleep
- Use alcohol or sleeping pills
- Smoke
- Have nasal congestion
Sleep apnea also occurs more frequently in older adults.
Studies suggest that sleeping on your side (also known as the lateral sleeping position) is the best position for reducing sleep apnea and snoring.
While most people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight, there are various causes of sleep apnea, and even individuals who are not overweight can develop the condition.
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