What You Should Know About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that makes it tough to breathe normally while you sleep. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly waking up during the night or heard complaints about your loud snoring, sleep apnea could be the reason. This condition can interrupt your sleep more than 30 times a night! It’s not just the snoring either—other symptoms include waking up gasping for air, feeling groggy or foggy during the day, and even waking up with headaches.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): This is the most common type and happens when the muscles in your throat relax too much, blocking your airway while you sleep. It’s the culprit behind the frequent pauses in breathing and snoring.
- Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): This type is less common and results from a problem with how your brain communicates with your breathing muscles. Essentially, your brain “forgets” to tell your body to breathe for short periods.
There are two main types of sleep apnea:
Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment
We all know how important a good night’s sleep is for both our mental and physical health. Even if you don’t remember waking up throughout the night, sleep apnea still disrupts your sleep cycle, and this can have a big impact on your overall health, relationships, and quality of life. So, besides finally getting some solid sleep, what are the other benefits of treating sleep apnea?
Better Physical Health
Treating sleep apnea does more than just improve your sleep—it can help your overall health. It reduces your risk of developing high blood pressure, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and even liver issues. It also eases the stress on your metabolic system. Plus, managing sleep apnea lowers the added risks during surgeries or when undergoing drug treatments.
Sharper Mind, Clearer Focus
Ever feel like your brain’s stuck in a fog? Many people with sleep apnea wake up feeling groggy, forgetful, or like they just can’t focus. With treatment, patients often report feeling mentally sharper, more focused, and like themselves again. It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do for your brainpower.
Strengthen Your Relationships
Treating sleep apnea doesn’t just benefit you—it can make life easier for your partner too. Less restlessness and snoring means they’ll get better, uninterrupted sleep, which boosts their mood and energy levels. Waking up refreshed can make everything from parenting to work feel less stressful, and your improved mood is bound to be contagious.
Treating sleep apnea is truly a win-win—for your health, your mental clarity, and even your relationships!
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
There are several ways to treat sleep apnea, depending on the severity and underlying cause of your condition. It’s also crucial to choose a treatment that fits your lifestyle, ensuring that it’s both effective and manageable.
Lifestyle Changes
For those with mild sleep apnea, some simple changes at home can make a big difference.
Your dentist may suggest:
- Losing weight
- Avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills
- Sleeping on your side instead of your back
- Quitting smoking
- Improving your sleep habits (sleep hygiene)
These lifestyle adjustments are safe, effective, and are often recommended alongside other treatments.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
The most common treatment for sleep apnea is using a CPAP machine. This device involves wearing a mask over your nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The mask is connected to a machine that provides a constant flow of air to keep your airway open. This allows you to breathe normally throughout the night. There are various types of CPAP masks and machines, so you can find one that feels comfortable and works best for your needs.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances are another option and are worn while sleeping, similar to a mouthguard. Depending on the cause of your sleep apnea, these devices can help reduce snoring, reposition your jaw to keep the airway clear, or stabilize your tongue. They’re effective for some people and offer a more portable solution than CPAP machines.
Surgery and Medication
For more complex cases, surgery or medication may be required. Common surgical procedures include:
- Fixing a deviated septum
- Widening a narrow airway
- Jaw surgery to prevent throat blockages
Each of these surgical solutions is aimed at addressing the specific cause of the sleep apnea and improving your ability to breathe during sleep.
By exploring the various treatments available, you and your dentist can find the best solution to improve your sleep and overall health.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
The symptoms of sleep apnea often revolve around poor sleep quality and its aftereffects. Common signs include loud or frequent snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, waking up gasping or choking, frequent trips to the washroom at night, and waking up feeling unrefreshed. During the day, you may experience headaches, trouble concentrating, irritability, memory issues, or a persistent brain fog. Some people also notice a decrease in sexual desire.
There are several possible causes of sleep apnea. In adults, the most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, which is often linked to excess weight and obesity. However, the exact cause can vary, and a professional evaluation is necessary to determine the type of sleep apnea and its root cause.
Yes, even if you don’t remember waking up, sleep apnea can still significantly disrupt your sleep. When your brain senses a lack of oxygen, it briefly wakes you up so you can resume breathing. These interruptions can happen 30 times or more each night, often so quickly that you don’t recall them, but they leave you feeling groggy and tired the next day.
Several factors can increase your risk of developing sleep apnea. These include being overweight, being male, having a family history of sleep apnea, using alcohol or sleeping pills, smoking, and nasal congestion. Additionally, sleep apnea is more common in older adults.
Sleeping on your side, also known as the lateral sleeping position, is recommended for alleviating sleep apnea and reducing snoring. It helps keep your airways open and can improve your overall sleep quality.
Yes, while most people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight, thin individuals can still develop the condition. There are various causes of sleep apnea, and it’s not limited to people with a higher body weight.
