All About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that affects your ability to breathe properly during sleep. It can cause frequent disruptions, sometimes more than 30 times a night, and is often marked by pauses in breathing, loud snoring, gasping for air, waking up with headaches, and daytime fatigue or brain fog. This disorder can also disturb your partner’s rest due to excessive snoring.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This common form occurs when the soft tissues in the throat relax and block the airway, making it hard to breathe during sleep.
- Central Sleep Apnea: This less common type happens when the brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles responsible for breathing, resulting in interrupted breathing patterns.
There are two primary types of sleep apnea:
What Are the Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment?
It’s no secret that quality sleep is crucial for our emotional and physical well-being. Even if you don’t remember waking up at night, sleep apnea disrupts your sleep cycle, impacting your health, relationships, and overall quality of life. So, beyond finally getting restful sleep, what are the key benefits of treating sleep apnea?
Better physical health
Treating sleep apnea can significantly reduce your risk of several health issues, including high blood pressure, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and liver complications. It also eases the strain on your metabolic system. For those undergoing surgery or certain medical treatments, addressing sleep apnea can lower associated risks, making these procedures safer.
Feel like yourself again
Sleep apnea often leaves people feeling groggy, forgetful, or stuck in a constant brain fog. By improving your sleep quality, treatment helps you feel sharper, more focused, and ready to tackle the day. Many patients report feeling more energetic and like their true selves again.
Strengthen your relationships
Sleep apnea treatment benefits not only you but also your partner. By reducing or eliminating snoring and nighttime restlessness, your partner can enjoy uninterrupted sleep, leading to improved moods for both of you. Starting the day refreshed makes parenting, work, and social interactions much more enjoyable. Plus, your good mood can positively influence those around you! Sleep apnea treatment isn’t just about sleep—it’s about improving your overall quality of life and health for the long term.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Sleep apnea treatment depends on the cause and severity of your condition. The key is finding a solution that fits your lifestyle while effectively addressing your symptoms.
Lifestyle changes
Mild sleep apnea can often be managed with simple lifestyle adjustments. Your dentist may recommend weight loss, avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills, changing your sleeping position, following sleep hygiene practices, and quitting smoking. These changes are safe, effective, and often used alongside other treatments to maximize results.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP is the most common and widely recognized treatment for sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask over your nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The mask is connected to a machine that provides a steady flow of air to keep your airways open. With a variety of CPAP masks and machines available, you can find an option that best suits your comfort and needs.
Oral appliances
Custom-made oral appliances are another effective option for managing sleep apnea. Resembling a mouthguard, these devices are worn while you sleep. Depending on your specific condition, they may reduce snoring, reposition your jaw to keep your airway open, or stabilize your tongue to prevent blockages.
Surgery and medication
In some cases, surgery or medication may be recommended to address the root causes of sleep apnea. Common surgical procedures include correcting a deviated septum, widening a narrow airway, or adjusting the jaw to relieve throat blockages. Medications may also be prescribed to address specific underlying issues. Finding the right treatment for sleep apnea can improve your sleep quality, health, and overall well-being, helping you wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
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 generally revolve around poor sleep quality and its effects. Common signs include frequent or loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, waking up gasping or choking, nighttime trips to the bathroom, and feeling unrested upon waking. During the day, you may experience headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, memory problems, brain fog, and a reduced sex drive.
Sleep apnea can have various causes. The most common type in adults, obstructive sleep apnea, is often linked to excess weight and obesity. However, a professional evaluation is necessary to determine the specific type and cause of your sleep apnea.
Yes, sleep apnea can disrupt your sleep without you being aware of it. When your brain senses a lack of oxygen, it briefly rouses you from sleep to reopen your airway. These awakenings are so brief that you may not remember them, yet they can occur 30 times or more per night, leaving you feeling groggy and unrested in the morning.
Risk factors include being overweight, male, older, having a family history of sleep apnea, or poor sleep habits. Other contributors include alcohol or sleeping pill use, smoking, and nasal congestion. Sleep apnea is particularly common in older adults.
Sleeping on your side, also known as the lateral sleeping position, is considered the best position for alleviating sleep apnea symptoms and reducing snoring.
Yes, while obesity is a common cause of obstructive sleep apnea, thin individuals can also develop the condition due to other factors, such as anatomical abnormalities or genetic predispositions.
Addressing sleep apnea improves sleep quality, health, and overall well-being, regardless of the underlying cause.
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