Do you wake up irritable and unsettled although you’ve been “asleep” for the whole night? Is the fatigue negatively affecting your life? Believe it or not, you may be suffering from a sleeping disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea. There are many patients that have had the same stressful nights and turned bed time back to a relaxing period of time after better understanding sleep apnea and seeking treatment from Flenniken Family Dentistry. Your dentist in Carlisle has the information you need to better understand your condition and how to improve your restless nights.
What happens during sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common type of sleeping disorder that interrupts breathing. This happens because your throat muscles become too relaxed and sink to the back of your throat. One of the most common symptoms is a gasping, choking, or snoring sound while you sleep. These sounds occur each time your body has to reset your throat muscles to receive the vital oxygen it needs to survive the night.
Snoring happens when the throat muscles relax. Your tongue may fall to the back of your throat and your airways become narrower than they should be. Snoring occurs primarily when you inhale, but can also happen to a lesser degree when you exhale. The sleeper is partially aroused to resume breathing by the brain, which causes them to have poor sleep.
Are you a high-risk sleep apnea patient?
Are you at risk for sleep apnea? This sleeping disorder can occur just in about anyone at any age, but these factors increase your risk of developing this sleeping disorder:
- Age– People age 40 and over are at higher risk.
- Being overweight– An obstruction of breathing can be caused by fat deposits around the upper airway.
- Being male– More likely to occur in males than females.
- Family history –The risk of developing sleep apnea is greater for people who have family members with this condition.
- Alcohol use– This type of beverage relaxes the throat muscles.
- Smoking– Smoking can cause inflammation and fluid retention in the airway.
- Neck circumference– The airway may become narrower with a thicker neck.
- Narrowed airway– Enlarged adenoids or tonsils or a naturally narrow throat.
- Nasal congestion –If you have difficulty breathing through your nose, your chances of developing OSA is greater.
Patients that are living with sleep apnea are susceptible to developing bigger health issues. Because you’re not receiving the sleep you need, you’ll most likely experience excessive daytime fatigue, depression, and trouble concentrating. This leads to a higher risk for motor vehicle accidents, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and even strokes! No wonder why it’s important to seek treatment for sleep apnea in Carlisle.
Who should I seek help from?
Sleep apnea can be hard to diagnose alone—well since you’ll be sleeping. The best way to get down to the bottom of your interrupted sleeping or daytime fatigue is to visit Flenniken Family Dentistry. If we find that you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, we offer effective custom oral appliances that can adjust your airways for the best, most effective treatment to improve sleeping habits.
If you’re interested in receiving more details on sleep apnea or how we can help you, contact our office. We’re more than happy to help patients regain a full night’s sleep once again.
