There are a wide range of causes and symptoms of sleep apnea. Symptoms can be physical or mental, and will vary greatly from patient to patient. During your complimentary sleep apnea screening, Dr. Sciancalepore, our Sleep Care Coordinator, will help you understand the main causes and symptoms of sleep apnea, along with how oral appliance therapy can help diminish these outcomes.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Multiple things can lead to this condition, including genetic, lifestyle and other factors which can affect your ability to breath while sleeping. Some of these risk factors include:
- Family History
- Gender – Males are much more likely to develop sleep apnea
- Obesity
- Enlarged tissue such as the tongue
- Bone deformities
Understanding the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Not being able to get a good night’s sleep can quickly affect every aspect of your life. While the symptoms may vary from patient to patient, it’s important to be familiar with the warning signs in order to get care before the condition worsens. These symptoms can be mental or physical, affecting everything from how you function every day to your ability to remain healthy and active. Some symptoms to look for include:
- Inability to sleep
- Fatigue during the day
- Depression
- Irritability
- Memory problems
- Heartburn or choking at night
- Sweating and chest pain during sleep
- Headaches that increase in frequency and severity
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sleep apnea ever go away?
Because sleep apnea can be caused by different underlying factors, not every case of sleep apnea can be guaranteed to be treated in the same way. Oral sleep apnea is the result of a blocked airway, which can be due to enlarged tonsils, tongue tissue collapsing backwards, and/or excess tissue surrounding the soft palate. Sometimes, cases of sleep apnea can be completely eradicated with surgery. However, there are other treatment options available and surgery is typically unnecessary. It’s important to remember that oral sleep apnea may require ongoing management and maintenance, instead of a complete cure.
Is sleep apnea life-threatening?
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health consequences, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. That’s why it’s crucial to seek treatment immediately after getting diagnosed with sleep apnea. Dr. Regina M. Dailey is here to explore & offer treatments to tackle your sleep apnea and help you sleep soundly at night.
To learn about our treatment options, contact our office in historic Ann Arbor at (734) 996-0055 or fill out the contact form and we’ll get back to you soon.
Contact Our Ann Arbor Dental Sleep Medicine Diplomate
734-996-0055
While sleep apnea might not seem like it can cause long-term damage to your health, postponing treatment can lead to a number of consequences that threaten your overall well being. Dr. Dailey will help you determine how to treat the symptoms before they become a major issue for your overall health. Contact our Ann Arbor dentist today for a consultation!