08 Nov Why Is It Important to Treat Sleep Apnea?
Your snoring may not seem like a big deal, but it could be a symptom of something more with your health. In fact, snoring is one of the most common indicators that you may have undiagnosed sleep apnea. Keep reading to find out why it’s important to treat sleep apnea and what your options are.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when the muscles and tissue of the throat and tongue relax, causing them to block airflow and intermittently stop your breathing as you sleep. There are three different types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea.
What Are Sleep Apnea Symptoms?
The most common symptom of sleep apnea is loud, frequent snoring. Other symptoms include stopping breathing (which can cause choking and gasping noises), morning headaches, fatigue throughout the day, still feeling tired after a full night of sleep, frequent urination throughout the night, and having a hard time focusing and remembering things.
Why Is It Important to Treat Sleep Apnea?
Snoring may just seem like something that some people do when they sleep, but it can have an effect on you (and your partner). Lack of focus, irritability, daytime drowsiness, decreased libido, and sleep deprivation have all been linked to loud, frequent snoring.
Sleep apnea symptoms may not cause too much alarm initially, but if untreated, it can lead to more serious health concerns. These include diabetes, stroke, heart arrhythmias, anxiety, depression, blood sugar and metabolism complications, Alzheimer’s, dementia, compromised immune health, comorbidities, and more.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
Sleep apnea requires a medical diagnosis by your physician. This is determined by conducting a sleep evaluation either at home or at an overnight sleep center. A sleep specialist will interpret the results from your evaluation and determine if you have sleep apnea.
After you’ve been diagnosed, there are three treatment options your physician may recommend:
- CPAP: Short for continuous positive airway pressure. This is the most common treatment option, but it is not your only option. Using a CPAP involves wearing a mask connected by a tube to a motor that provides continuous airflow to prevent your airway from collapsing.
- Oral Appliance Therapy: Your physician will refer you to a qualified dentist who will take an impression of your mouth to create your custom-fit oral appliance. It fits over your teeth to keep your airway open and support your jaw in a forward position. It’s one device with no hose, mask, or motor; it is comfortable, portable, easy to care for, and quiet.
- Surgery: There are a variety of surgical procedures that can be performed to treat sleep apnea. They all have varying degrees of efficacy and side effects.
Treat Sleep Apnea with TMJ & Sleep Solutions
A good night’s sleep is crucial to your health! If you’re tired of being tired, contact us today. We’ll help you figure out what’s happening and how to fix it.