What Is Sleep Apnea?
About Sleep Apnea
Millions of people in the US have sleep apnea—suffering through restless nights, sleep deprivation, low oxygenation, and headaches, all without recognizing their symptoms. Our sleep dentist, J. Joshua Lee, has provided information and tips below to help patients understand their symptoms. To learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Dallas Sleep Better Solutions, please call our office at 972-846-8755.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Me?
Many symptoms of sleep apnea are easily recognizable to the sufferer. These include loud, chronic snoring, waking up choking or out of breath, restless sleep cycles, early morning headaches, daily fatigue, and difficulty falling or staying asleep. If a patient takes depression, blood pressure, or GERD medications or is clinically overweight, this may also contribute to a sleep apnea disorder.
Is Sleep Deprivation Harmful To My Health?
Sleep apnea can disrupt a patient’s deep sleep cycle, causing persistent sleep deprivation. Not only can this make a person feel tired and fatigued throughout the day, but it can also lead to an increased risk for high blood pressure, depression, headaches, ADHD symptoms, diabetes, stroke, and heart failure.
Why Do I Snore?
Snoring is a symptom of obstructed airways unless a patient suffers from sinus or nasal congestion. A soft palate and collapsed tissues in the back of the throat can vibrate as air passes through. Common causes are large tonsils, sleeping position, alcohol consumption, excess neck weight, sleeping pills, and muscle relaxers. Snoring can also indicate sleep disorders, including UARS (upper airway resistance syndrome) and OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). These disorders cause sleep deprivation and lead to increased headaches, migraines, heartburn, acid reflux, and an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
How Do I Stop Snoring?
At-home treatments for snoring include regular exercise, weight loss, and avoiding sleeping pills, alcohol, and sedatives before bed. But, if these treatments fail to resolve a patient’s problem, they should speak with their local sleep specialist to learn about treatment plans and possible apnea diagnosis.
“To say that Dallas sleep better Solutions has helped me is a complete understatement. I cannot say enough about my experience with our team and the exceptional staff that work there, and I would recommend this type of sleep apnea treatment any day. Dallas sleep better Solutions has changed my life for the better, and it feels great to be me again!”
- Dallas Sleep Better Solutions patient
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Sleep apnea is often treated through sleep hygiene regimens, such as getting moderate exercise or limiting caffeine, alcohol, and food consumption late in the day. Breathe Right® strips and similar products can ease sleep apnea with CPAP machines or fitted oral appliances. Surgical options are also available depending on the patient. Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery, or MMA surgery, tightens the soft palate and enlarges the upper airways by pulling the upper and lower jaws forward. ENT surgeons can perform soft palate surgery or Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). These treatments are recommended only if the throat or mouth has severe physical obstructions.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a patient’s throat muscles relax and obstruct airflow, interrupting the natural breathing cycle.
What Is Central Sleep Apnea?
More uncommon than obstructive sleep apnea, this disorder is also more dangerous. Central sleep apnea is when the patient’s muscles do not receive the signals that monitor breathing movement.
What is CPAP Therapy?
CPAP is also known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Using a mask, the CPAP machine presses air gently through the nose and mouth and into the lungs. The consistent pressure allows the sleeping patient to take deep, uninterrupted breaths without the tissues in the back of the throat collapsing. However, some patients react negatively to CPAP since the machine can sometimes cause extreme discomfort. Dr. Hoffstrom offers snoring treatment alternatives for those who are CPAP-intolerant.
What is Oral Appliance Therapy?
Oral Appliance Therapy treats sleep apnea through fitted appliances that reposition the mouth to increase airflow. The most common appliance is an MRD or mandibular repositioning device. These move the jaw forward, lifting the palate and increasing space behind the tongue. But to fit each of our patients, Dallas sleeps better Solutions offers a variety of appliances, including Panthera, ProSomnus, and Herbst.
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