Do you sleep with your mouth open? Do you snore loudly, or sleep restlessly? If so, it may be time to seek treatment for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when there are obstructions in the airway that can result in hundreds of interruptions to your breathing in a single night. If left unchecked, this condition can lead to serious health issues such as high blood pressure. Luckily there are treatments that are specifically for these sufferers! In this blog post we will discuss how sleep apnea affects our health, what causes it, and how it can be treated.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that interferes with your sleep and breathing. When you sleep, your body relaxes into its most relaxed state. However, if the muscles of the airways are not able to maintain their strength or position due to an obstruction, this can result in breathing difficulty. This can occur in all sleep stages, but is most noticeable as the muscles of the body begin to relax and your breathing becomes more difficult. This can lead to a complete obstruction of airflow for a time, depending on how severe your sleep apnea case is.

Signs and Symptoms

If you suffer from sleep apnea, sleepiness, fatigue and irritability are likely signs that you could have this condition. Other symptoms include:

– Loud snoring

– Gasping for air during sleep or choking sounds due to lack of airflow through the body

– Awakening in a state of confusion because your brain never received enough oxygen while sleeping

– Heartburn and sleep apnea go hand in hand because sleep apnea causes the muscles of the body to relax, this includes those that keep your stomach acid up where it belongs which can lead to heartburn and other gastrointestinal issues. 

Hopkins Medicine explains that, in addition to the above symptoms, some sufferers might wake up with a dry mouth, since sleep apnea tends to make you breathe with an open mouth, drying out your saliva. Further, some sufferers often wake up with headaches as the result of low oxygen or high carbon dioxide levels while sleeping. 

How We Treat Sleep Apnea

At Mountain Aire Dentistry, we treat sleep apnea by using a custom-made oral appliance. This appliance is specially made to hold the lower jaw in a forward position which allows for unobstructed airflow. This treatment can be useful on its own or along with other treatments, like a CPAP machine.

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine treats your condition by sending a steady flow of oxygen into your nose and mouth as you sleep. With this, your airways remain open and allow you to breathe normally.

Who’s at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

Anyone can develop sleep apnea but people who are most at risk include those with:

– Obesity because excess weight puts pressure on the airways and causes them to collapse more easily which is what causes breathing difficulty 

– A family history of sleep apnea or snoring loudly

– Sleeping on your back as opposed to either side or stomach because sleeping flat can cause the muscles in the throat area to relax more than they should which leads to sleep apnea

If you suffer from sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, lack of rest or sleep apnea symptoms, schedule an appointment with Mountain Aire Dentistry for treatment.

The Importance of Seeking Treatment

Did you know sleep apnea affects around 22 million Americans and is currently the most common sleep-related breathing disorder? However, studies show that only 20% of sleep apnea sufferers receive treatment for their sleep apnea. Without seeking treatment, you risk your condition becoming worse. If left untreated, you could experience more serious health issues such as:

– High blood pressure

– A stroke or heart attack due to the lack of oxygen received during sleep and stress on your cardiovascular system

– You might even become distracted or drowsy at work or on the road because you are sleep deprived

In addition to you suffering uncomfortable symptoms and being at higher risk for developing these health issues, you also could be disturbing your partner and affecting their quality of rest. This can place great stress on the relationship between the affected and unaffected partner. Treating your sleep disorder benefits not only you, but those close to you, too! 

Get Better Zzz’s By Calling Us Today!

If sleep apnea is affecting your sleep or daily life, contact Mountain Aire Dentistry today to schedule an appointment for sleep apnea treatment. We will work to help you get a better night’s rest once again. Call us today: (303) 731-7755.