Chronic headaches and fatigue, inability to concentrate or focus on tasks throughout the day, and irritability or depression; do any of these conditions sound familiar to you? If you answered yes, you may be struggling with a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. Many people don’t even realize they have sleep apnea, and this is because many of these symptoms go unnoticed or are attributed to other health conditions. If left untreated, however, sleep apnea is dangerous and can contribute to a number of other serious health concerns such as heart failure, strokes, diabetes and high blood pressure. Here’s some more information about the symptoms of sleep apnea in Canton, MI and how you can effectively manage it.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when your airway is obstructed during the night, causing you to stop breathing, which sends a signal to your brain to wake you up. This can actually happens multiple and even hundreds of times per night in severe cases. The reason that sleep apnea is so dangerous is that your brain and other vital organs are not receiving the oxygen they need to rejuvenate throughout the night. When you stop breathing it also puts you at a higher risk for heart failure.
What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Loud snoring that occurs because the airway is obstructed often identifies sleep apnea. You may not realize you’re snoring, but your bed partner will surely inform you. The snoring is usually loud enough to keep them from sleeping and it’s excessive.
You may wake up frequently with headaches or a dry mouth, and have trouble concentrating throughout the day. Sleep apnea causes chronic fatigue, which can affect your relationships and your performance at work. You may feel very tired in the morning even though you’ve had a full night of sleep.
How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
A continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP machine is the standard recommendation for patients who suffer from sleep apnea. Many patients however find this machine hard to use and wear regularly because it requires wearing a mask while you’re sleeping and the machine tends to be loud at night.
The good news is that many dental providers are now learning the dangers of sleep apnea and how to help open airways through the use of oral appliances that can be worn at night while you sleep. Oral appliances are custom designed for each patient’s unique needs and they relax muscles, which opens airways for clear breathing at night.
At Robinson Dental Group, Dr. J.D. Robison has extensive training and years of experience helping patients successfully manage sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders. Don’t ignore the symptoms of sleep apnea any longer! Your health is too important. Contact our office today to learn more about sleep apnea and how we can help you.