Sleep apnea is a major sleep disorder worldwide. It affects the quality of your sleep, disrupting your daily life activities, including decreased work performance. It can happen to anyone but is likely to occur in individuals with excessive weight, a small upper airway, or a family history of the disorder.
It is essential to seek sleep apnea treatments early to prevent severe complications. Bristow Sleep Apnea specialist Tamesha Morris, DDS, provides comprehensive solutions for sleep apnea to promote your living. Call Momentum Dental Care today to schedule your consultation.
What are the causes of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a health problem where you frequently stop and start breathing during sleep.
Usually, the tissues in your mouth and the surrounding parts, including the throat, relax when you sleep. They fall to the back of your throat, covering a part of the whole airway.
When the tissues cover the airway partly, they cause vibration, leading to snoring. When the tissues block the entire airway, the breathing stops, causing obstructive sleep apnea.
The severity of your problem depends on the number of times the breathing stops. You have a serious case of sleep apnea when you stop breathing more than 30 times within an hour.
What are the symptoms associated with sleep apnea?
Loud snoring primarily characterizes sleep apnea. Well, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, about 40% of individuals who snore tend to have sleep apnea. Other than snoring, you may experience the following:
- Morning headaches
- Memory problems
- Excessive fatigue during the day
- Difficulty concentrating
- The urge to urinate during the night
Unfortunately, most people with sleep apnea do not notice they snore or stop breathing in their sleep. Rather it’s the other people in the house or their partners that complain about their loud snoring.
What is the diagnosis of sleep apnea?
Usually, your symptoms are the first ones to suggest you may have sleep apnea. But, your provider at Momentum Dental Care recommends a sleep study to diagnose your health issue accurately. The sleep study happens at home.
It involves attaching the sensors to your fingers and chest and placing a small tube in your nose. A device records your breathing, oxygen levels, and airflow during your sleep.
What are the treatments for sleep apnea?
Your provider suggests a treatment depending on the severity of your condition and the cause. For instance, if sleep apnea results from being overweight, Dr. Morris may recommend losing weight to manage the condition.
Another treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or oral appliance therapy. CPAP is usually the first recommended treatment for sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask with continuous oxygen pumping to keep your airway open.
To patients who find CPAP unmanageable, oral appliances are an alternative treatment option. They provide effective results as with CPAP and are ideal for treating mild to moderate sleep apnea cases.
You place the appliance over the upper and lower teeth, moving the lower jaw a bit forward. It expands the airway stopping the tongue from falling back.
Consult a sleep apnea specialist today
If your partner or family members comment on your loud snoring, you might have sleep apnea. Contact Momentum Dental Care today for more evaluation and treatment.
