Do you feel tired even after a full night’s rest and sleep? Are you finding it difficult to focus on everyday activities? If yes, it’s a warning sign that you may have sleep apnea. However, you now get sleep apnea treatment in Ludington, MI, and get a good night’s sleep.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops for 10 seconds or more, which can lead to less oxygen in the blood and can disrupt your sleep. People with sleep apnea often go undiagnosed because many sleepers are unaware of their nighttime symptoms. You need to get the best sleep apnea treatment, to avoid major health complications.
Types Of Sleep Apnea
1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This happens when there’s a problem with the airway at the back of the throat that becomes constricted or blocked during sleep. This can cause snoring as the air is prevented from passing through normally. It can also cause you to wake up or take several deep breaths, often making sounds like snorting or choking.
2. Central Sleep Apnea
It happens due to the disruption in the communication between the brain and muscles. You will breathe lightly or have temporary pauses. However, CSA is very rare.
Symptoms Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Drowsy throughout the day
- Loud snoring accompanied by choking sounds
- Morning Headaches that may stay for several hours
- You wake up with a dry mouth
- Tiredness or restlessness with periods of wakefulness during the night
- Frequently getting up from bed to urinate
- Irritability or frustration
- Reduced focus
- Abnormal breathing patterns
- Shortness of breath or chest pains
Many of these symptoms can also be caused due to other health conditions, and they cannot be diagnosed through symptoms alone. Therefore it’s necessary to visit the dentist who will make sure you get the necessary treatment.
What Are The Causes Of Sleep Apnea?
The main cause of sleep apnea is related to age, sex, body weight, and certain anatomical features related to your head and neck area. The risk of developing sleep apnea increases with age. Men are more likely to have sleep apnea, especially in the earlier stages of adulthood.
- The most common cause of sleep apnea is excess weight and obesity, where the throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, and the soft tissue causes the airway to get blocked.
- Another cause of sleep apnea is the size of your neck. For instance, men with a neck circumference above 17 inches and women with a neck circumference above 15 inches have a much higher risk for sleep apnea.
- Sleep apnea occurs more frequently in people having specific anatomical features, including a larger tongue and a short jaw.
- If you smoke, you have a higher chance is getting sleep apnea.
- If you have hormone issues like underactive or excess production of growth hormone can increase the risk for sleep apnea as it can cause swelling of the tissue near the airway.
- Your sleep position also affects sleep apnea, as people who sleep on their backs can affect their shape and positioning of the tissue around the airway.
- If you have a family history of sleep apnea, it can increase a person’s risk of sleep apnea.
- If you have nasal congestion and find it difficult to breathe through the nose, it is linked with a higher likelihood of having sleep apnea.
- If you suffer from certain medical conditions like heart or lung conditions, you can develop a higher risk for sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you should get treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated, it can lead to different health problems like stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. Oral appliance therapy is an effective and the best way to treat sleep apnea.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliance therapy involves wearing a removable oral appliance in the mouth while sleeping. They fit just like an orthodontic retainer or a mouthguard. Oral appliances will prevent your airway from collapsing. It will either hold the tongue or support your jaw in a forward position. Therefore it is necessary to get a custom-fitted oral appliance for it to work. Over-the-counter cannot treat snoring or sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy can help improve the symptoms of sleep apnea, such as moodiness, concentration issues, and daytime sleepiness. It will also eliminate or reduce snoring.
If you want to have a good night’s sleep, just visit our dentist to get your Oral appliance. Lakewinds Dental helps you to get the quality sleep you deserve with help of our sleep apnea treatment!
