Do you suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness or irritability? These symptoms are not just the result of a stuffy nose or bad sleeping position, it could signal sleep apnea.
Snoring is common, in fact half of men and a quarter of women snore regularly. Snoring is an indication that there is a problem with normal breathing and as snoring gets louder, it eventually interrupts breathing. Since our bodies need oxygen, when oxygen levels decrease, our bodies waken us to a lighter level of sleep so we can breathe. A snorer may not remember waking but it can occur several times throughout one’s sleep. This prevents a deep sleep, which can be diagnosed as sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea causes sporadic interruptions of your breathing as you sleep and occurs when the throat muscles fail to keep the airway open. The most common condition is known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) that is a serious and progressive disorder that can cause a patient to stop breathing up to 100 times an hour. Central sleep apnea is a less common form that affects the regulatory function of the heart or brain.
If you suffer from snoring, daytime fatigue or headaches, you may suffer from sleep apnea. Dr. Sowell is highly trained to be able to diagnosis sleep apnea with a simple take home test that way you do not have to spend a night in a sleep lab. Dr. Sowell will receive medically evaluated results in which he can create a personal treatment plan from.
There are several treatments for sleep apnea and heavy snoring. Dr. Sowell can help you reduce or eliminate snoring with sleep aids that keep you on your side or raise your head to create an open airway.
Sleep apnea, particularly OSA, is commonly treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This treatment uses an air pump to blow pressure into your airway through a face-mask. However, patients typically lack compliance due to the discomfort and embarrassment over the appearance of the CPAP. Dr. Sowell can effectively treat mild to moderate sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. Similar to mouth guards, an oral appliance for sleep apnea is custom fit to reposition the jaw during sleep and prevent soft tissue from collapsing and blocking the airway.
Sleep apnea and related sleep disorders are a growing health concern that remains severely under diagnosed. Sleep apnea is often more than just a “snoring habit” and can present an overall health risk for high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and other concerns. Patients who suffer with sleep apnea and sleep disorders often go through the day feeling groggy, irritated and find it difficult to concentrate.
Ready to face your day feeling awake, refreshed and energized after a great night of sleep? Schedule your appointment with Dr. Mark Sowell in our Plano dentist office today!