Say Goodbye to Sleeplessness and Daytime Fatigue with Sleep Apnea Treatment
Snoring happens to anyone. In fact, we sometimes make jokes about it. Unfortunately, if you experience snoring, you shouldn’t take it lightly. Persistent snoring can be a symptom of a severe sleep disorder called sleep apnea. If untreated, sleep apnea can cause health complications, including heart disease, depression, and hypertension to name a few, and unfortunately, sometimes death.
Losing the battle to sleep apnea? Please get in touch with Dr. Aja Nichols of Lifestyle Dentistry to keep your sleep apnea under control. We use conservative treatments to overcome sleep apnea and other airway disorders to improve your sleep quality.
Sleep apnea explained
Sleep apnea is more than snoring loudly at night. This sleep condition interrupts your breathing when sleeping. When these disruptions happen, you may struggle to breathe, or breathing may stop even for up to a full minute. Often, you may wake up choking or gasping for air as your body tries to restore normal breathing.
Sleep apnea comes in many sizes and shapes. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which happens when the soft tissues in your throat collapse, blocking your airway when sleeping. Besides OSA, you may suffer from central sleep apnea (CSA) when your brain fails to control the breathing muscles. Although rare, some patients can suffer from a combination of OSA and CSA.
Symptoms of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea denies your body the much-needed sleep and oxygen, leaving you feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep. Other common symptoms of sleep apnea include.
- Snoring
- Sleeplessness (insomnia)
- Waking up with a sore throat
- Loss of libido
- Mood changes
- Morning headaches
- Loss of concentration
Sleep apnea can do more harm if the above symptoms don’t scare you. If left untreated, this sleep disorder can put you at risk of hypertension, stroke, depression, diabetes, heart disease, and other health complications.
Treating sleep apnea
Suspect you have sleep apnea? You are in good company. About 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Worse yet, only 20% of the cases are diagnosed! Fortunately, sleep apnea is treatable when diagnosed by a professional dentist.
Treating sleep apnea doesn’t always require invasive or complex treatments. In fact, most cases are treatable with oral appliance therapy (OAT). Dr. Nichols recommends a custom-made dental device to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. This device holds your lower jaw in an optimal position and prevents the soft tissues from collapsing when breathing.
Unlike a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, sleep apnea devices are comfortable, simple, and easy to use — no noises or masks at night. You simply slip your device in your mouth and sleep peacefully like a baby.
In addition to a traditional dental device, Dr. Nichols may recommend some lifestyle changes.
Don’t let sleep apnea take control of your life
Ready to bid farewell to insomnia and daytime fatigue? Take the first step towards a good night’s sleep. If you suspect sleep apnea, please call (678) 884-4494 to schedule an appointment with Lifestyle Dentistry. We use a conservative approach to help you overcome sleep apnea for an improved quality of life.
