Have you ever woken up in the morning feeling tired even though you slept for hours? Do you snore loudly at night? If so, you may be one of the millions of people who suffer from sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that occurs when your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This can happen hundreds of times a night, and each time your breathing stops, your brain is briefly deprived of oxygen. This can lead to a number of health problems, including:
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High blood pressure
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Heart disease
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Stroke
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Diabetes
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Cancer
Sleep apnea can also make it difficult to concentrate, learn, and remember things. It can also increase your risk of accidents.
If you think you might have sleep apnea, it's important to see a doctor or dentist to get diagnosed. There are a number of treatments available for sleep apnea, including lifestyle changes, oral appliances, and surgery.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
The most common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
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Loud snoring
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Gasping or choking during sleep
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Pauses in breathing during sleep
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Waking up feeling tired or unrested
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Morning headaches
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Difficulty concentrating
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Increased irritability
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Dry mouth
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Night sweats
If you experience any of these symptoms, it's important to see a doctor or dentist to get diagnosed.
What are the causes of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can be caused by a number of factors, including:
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Being overweight or obese
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Having a large neck circumference
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Having a narrow airway
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Having certain facial features, such as a recessed chin
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Having a family history of sleep apnea
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Using alcohol or sedatives
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Smoking
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a sleep study. A sleep study is an overnight test that monitors your brain waves, heart rate, breathing, and oxygen levels while you sleep.
There are two types of sleep studies:
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Polysomnography (PSG): This is the most common type of sleep study. It is done in a sleep lab and monitors a wide range of physiological parameters.
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Home sleep apnea test (HSAT): This is a portable device that you can use at home to monitor your breathing during sleep.
How is sleep apnea treated?
There are a number of treatments available for sleep apnea, including:
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Lifestyle changes: Losing weight, quitting smoking, and avoiding alcohol can all help to improve sleep apnea.
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Oral appliances: These are devices that you wear in your mouth at night to help keep your airway open.
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Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP): This is a machine that blows air into your nose and mouth to keep your airway open.
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Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the underlying cause of sleep apnea.
If you have sleep apnea, it's important to get treatment. Treatment can help you to improve your sleep quality, reduce your risk of health problems, and improve your quality of life.
Talk to one of our caring patient coordinators today to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Frank Sioda 18676 Willamette Dr. Suite 202 West Linn, OR 97068-1718
Dental Blog | Dentist West Linn | ZenTech Dentistry Dr. Frank Sioda of ZenTech Dentistry has created this informative blog to help educate the community about a variety of dental topics. Learn more here. ZenTech Dentistry - Frank K. Sioda, DMD, PC, 18676 Willamette Dr., Suite 202, West Linn, OR 97068-1718 | (503) 765-9699 | zentechdentistry.com | 10/6/2024 | Associated Words: dentist West Linn |
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Have you ever woken up in the morning feeling tired even though you slept for hours? Do you snore loudly at night? If so, you may be one of the millions of people who suffer from sleep apnea.