Do you feel tired or sense acute headaches when you wake up in the morning? Has your bed partner ever shifted to the next room during night, exhausted by listening to your snores, choke or gasp?
If your response to these questions is positive, then you may have sleep apnea. It is a condition in which the upper passages of your airway close off, thus interrupting the process of smooth breathing and depriving you of getting enough oxygen until you wake up and start breathing again.
The only way to check whether you have sleep apnea or not, is to have a sleep study. It is a test which records what happens while you sleep.
The main warning signs of Sleep Apnea include:
1. Loud and chronic (ongoing) snoring.
2. Excessive sleepiness during the day, at work, or while driving (hypersomnia)
3. Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
4. Sudden awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath
5. Pauses in breathing, along with gasping episodes while sleeping
6. Morning headaches
7. Dry mouth and sore throat when you wake up
8. Memory or learning problems
11. Concentration difficulties
12. Waking up frequently to urinate
In kids, sleep apnea can cause hyperactivity, angry or hostile behavior and poor school performance. Youngsters who have sleep apnea may also feel breathing difficulty and may breathe through their mouths instead of their noses throughout the day.
If you are doubtful that you may have sleep apnea, then do the following:
· See a doctor.
· Take with you a record of your sleep, fatigue levels during the whole day, and other symptoms that you might be having.
· Enquire from your bed partner if he or she has noticed you snoring heavily during sleep.
· Take an updated list of medications which you are taking presently, along with you.
HOW A DENTIST CAN HELP IN SLEEP APNEA?
Dentists recommend an oral appliance for sleep apnea. This appliance supports the jaw in a forward position to help retain an open upper airway.
Visit to a dental clinic:
First Visit: Dentist will conduct a full clinical evaluation. This will include the examination of your teeth, tongue, jaw and airway and probably an X-ray of the mouth.
Making and fitting the oral appliance: The oral appliances are customized by using digital or physical impressions. These models or impressions are then sent to a dental lab where the appliance is made.
Once the oral appliance is ready, you are called by the dentist to the dental office for adjustment or fitting of the appliance. After fitting, your sleep doctor may plan a sleep study for you to verify the treatment success.
Follow-Up: Effective oral appliances are always custom fit and needs adjustment over time to ensure maximum effectiveness. These routine visits are very crucial for the long-term treatment success.
Treating sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy will enhance the quality of your life. It can work great when you stay committed to your treatment and use it every night.
You will sleep better, feel sharper throughout the day and feel more energetic. You will find that your bed partner begins to sleep healthier, too!
Irresistible clinic is providing treatment for Sleep Apnea in San Diego. With the dentist’s help, you can improve your sleep as well as your health!