Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a condition in which your breathing remains abnormal while you are sleeping. People suffering from apnea have multiple pauses in their breathing while they are asleep. These issues can hamper your sleep quality and affect the way oxygen gets supplied to your body. If left untreated, this can lead to several potential health consequences.
Apnea is one of the most common disorders found in The United States of America. It can affect people of all ages, and genders.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
The common symptoms of apnea would include:
- Loud snoring
- Irregular breathing
- Morning headache
- Waking up with a dry mouth
- Gasping for air while sleeping
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia
- Lack of concentration
- Irritability
What are the types of sleep apnea?
There are basically three types of apnea:
- Obstructive apnea- This happens when the airways present at the back of your throat gets blocked physically. It can cause temporary breathing issues.
- Central apnea- It happens due to the issues with your brain system controlling the muscles that are involved in breathing. It can cause slow breathing.
- Mixed apnea- If a person is suffering from both OSA and CSA at a time, it is said that they are suffering from mixed apnea.
What are the common causes of apnea?
The common causes of apnea include:
- Your anatomical characteristics
- Obesity problems
- Drug abuse
- Genetics
- Tobacco consumption
- Sleeping position
- Nasal congestion
- Hormonal abnormalities
What is treatment for sleep apnea?
Dr. McClane at McClane Dentistry will thoroughly examine you and conduct the necessary tests to know the potential reasons behind your apnea. Understanding the root cause of the issue will make the treatment easier. For example, if obesity is the main issue, then reducing weight might help you to treat sleep apnea. There are also some mouth pieces that can help reduce the symptoms of apnea.
Apnea can lead to sleep deprivation which can cause several health issues. If you are having the symptoms, book an appointment with us. You can call our dental office in Stuart, FL, at (772) 287-0788.