What Is Sleep Apnea?
Quality sleep is essential for a healthy mind, body, and life. Without sleep, the mind can quickly become overworked and physical health deteriorates.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes you to wake up throughout the night to gasp for air. It can occur due to a blockage of your airway, such as excess tissue in the throat. The sleep disorder can also be caused when signals from the brain are disrupted during sleep. While snoring may be the most commonly recognized symptom, it’s far from the only one. Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause or worsen many serious health concerns.
Luckily, reliable treatment solutions for sleep apnea are available from your Ann Arbor sleep dentist. See how Dr. Dailey can help ensure you get the quality sleep you deserve.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Sleep apnea occurs when the patient stops breathing several times per night during sleep due to an obstruction of the airway. This results in a significant reduction in the patient’s blood oxygen level.
One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Additional signs that you or someone you care about is suffering from sleep apnea include anxiety, depression, impaired intellectual function, irritability, and waking up with a headache or sore throat.
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, call (734) 249-6888 right away — Dr. Dailey will make sure you get the right diagnosis and treatment for your sleep apnea.
What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?
Heavy snoring is a major symptom of sleep apnea. But unlike snoring, sleep apnea is a serious medical issue that will drastically impact your health if left untreated.
Sleep apnea causes or aggravates many significant medical problems, including:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Acid Reflux
- Weight gain
- Weakened immune system
- Memory loss
- Abnormal heartbeats
- Decreased sex drive
Don’t wait for sleep apnea to seriously affect your physical and mental health. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Dailey today to address your sleep apnea symptoms.
Sleep Apnea and Your Heart
Among other issues, sleep apnea interferes with your health by depriving your body of essential oxygen. In time, sleep apnea causes lasting damage to various organs and bodily systems. It’s particularly detrimental to your cardiovascular system, which spreads oxygenated blood throughout your body.
Sleep apnea can dramatically increase your risk for high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks. If you have sleep apnea, you must get the treatment you need so you can begin reversing the dangerous effects of the disorder.
Treating Sleep Apnea
After a positive diagnosis of sleep apnea, Dr. Dailey can offer several treatment options to remedy your symptoms and help you achieve regular, quality sleep. The most common treatment is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep. This machine allows the patient to have constant airflow to the lungs, leaving sleep undisturbed.
While CPAP is often an effective treatment for sleep apnea, many patients find the devices uncomfortable or disturbing to use through the night. If you’re uncomfortable or dissatisfied with your CPAP machine, Dr. Dailey is happy to offer alternative treatments. Devices like oral appliances are silent, discrete, and effective for most patients at reducing sleep apnea symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the relationship between sleep apnea and obesity?
About 70% of patients with obstructive sleep apnea are also obese. In adults, there is a strong correlation between excess weight and obstructive sleep apnea. For every increase in BMI, there is a 14% increased risk of developing sleep apnea. With an increase in weight, there’s a corresponding increase in OSA severity.
Is sleep apnea life-threatening?
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health consequences. The increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes can ultimately be life-threatening. That’s why it’s crucial to seek treatment immediately after getting diagnosed with sleep apnea. Our dentists offer several effective treatments to tackle your sleep apnea and help you sleep soundly at night.
How can I reduce my risk of sleep apnea?
When combined with professional treatment, making certain lifestyle changes may be beneficial in reducing sleep apnea symptoms. Some effective natural remedies that Dr. Dailey recommends include:
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Exercise regularly (yoga specifically promotes oxygen flow)
- Change your sleep position, also referred to as positional therapy
- Use a humidifier to open your airways
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, especially before bedtime
What Are Your Next Steps?
If you’re suffering from sleep apnea symptoms, schedule a consultation with Dr. Dailey by calling (734) 249-6888. During your consultation, she’ll review your symptoms, examine your mouth and throat, and determine if you might benefit from a sleep study. Once diagnosed, she can begin treatment right away to help you achieve quality sleep.
Your Sleep Dentist in Ann Arbor
Dr. Regina Dailey is recognized as a Diplomate by the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. This is the highest honor they can award to a sleep dentist.
To learn more about sleep apnea, give us a call today. Or, just fill out the submission form to arrange your consultation with Dr. Dailey.