Your Sleep Quality Matters
If you find that you’re dragging yourself out of bed every morning or that it’s hard to focus during the day no matter how much sleep you seem to get, it could be a sign of a serious condition called sleep apnea. The most common form of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which occurs when the tissues of the throat relax too much and cause the airway to be blocked. As a defense mechanism, your body jolts you awake so that you can breathe properly. This interruption can occur as many as thirty times an hour and oftentimes the patient is unaware of it.
Our bodies and brains need sleep in order to function properly and sleep apnea deprive not only deprives you of sleep but also much-needed oxygen. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to cognitive dysfunction, heart disease, and stroke as well as negatively impact interpersonal relationships and the overall quality of your life.
Luckily our experts at Southern Utah Sleep & TMJ Center are trained to treat obstructive sleep apnea and can help Utah patients in Enoch, Hamilton’s Fort, Kanarraville, or the surrounding areas get the sleep they deserve.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
The most common sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring which is usually reported by patients’ partners. They may also observe gasping for air or pauses in breathing during sleep. However, not every patient with sleep apnea snores or has a bed partner to make them aware of their sleeping habits so it’s important to recognize the other signs of sleep apnea:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Loss of productivity
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of depression
- Feelings of irritability
- Headache or migraine upon waking
- Sore throat or dry mouth upon waking
- Frequent urination at night
Patients Seeking Alternatives to CPAP
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder wherein your body stops and restarts breathing repeatedly throughout the night. This condition affects about 22 million Americans and can impact the quality of your sleep as well as damage your physical and mental wellbeing.
Those who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea are often prescribed CPAP but patients tend to stop using their CPAP machine because it’s loud, uncomfortable, and requires you to sleep on your back all night long. If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, you want a treatment that doesn’t restrict the way you live. Fortunately, at Southern Utah Sleep & TMJ Center, Dr. White offers oral appliance therapy as an alternative to CPAP.
Sleep Apnea & Snoring
Snoring is a condition that can be caused by a variety of factors and it’s a major symptom of sleep apnea. Heavy snoring can disrupt your partner’s sleep, causing tension in a relationship.
If you snore, there’s a good chance you’re also suffering from sleep apnea. That’s why it’s essential to find the exact cause of your snoring. If Dr. White discovers signs of sleep apnea, he’ll provide you with an easy-to-use sleep test that you can take at home.
Once you receive your diagnosis, you’ll be provided with a prescription for sleep apnea care. Then Dr. White will help you find the treatment that works best for you. Sleep apnea and snoring can both be treated with oral appliance therapy.
How Sleep Apnea Impacts Your Health
Sleep is an essential aspect of your life. It’s recommended that everyone get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night to maintain your health. This makes it possible to efficiently carry out your daily functions. However, when someone’s experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, they’re often getting a lot less sleep than they need.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious physical and mental health problems. Some of these conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. Seeking treatment will help you gain a better night’s sleep and dramatically improve your health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are my options for sleep apnea treatment?
Typically, the first treatment recommended for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine. The machine delivers a steady stream of air into your lungs overnight to help you breathe. While it’s effective for some patients, many others stop using CPAP due to the uncomfortable mask and loud noise made by the machine.
As a less-invasive alternative, Dr. White offers oral appliance therapy to relieve snoring and sleep apnea. These convenient devices are small, comfortable, portable, and allow you to sleep in any position you like. When combined with healthy lifestyle choices like a nutritious diet and regular exercise, an oral appliance can help you manage sleep apnea symptoms and get the rest you need.
How do I decide which sleep apnea treatment is right for me?
Once you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, our Cedar City sleep dentist will work with you to determine the best treatment plan for your needs. During your consultation, he’ll get to know you and ask about your symptoms, in addition to answering any questions you have about your treatment options.
For many of our patients, we recommend oral appliance therapy as a comfortable and convenient alternative to CPAP. These devices offer several unique benefits that other treatments can’t, making them an especially popular option.
What are the three types of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder where the body stops and restarts breathing throughout the night due to an obstruction in the throat, a neurological condition, or a combination of both.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles of the throat over-relax and cause the airway to be blocked. It’s the most common and easiest to treat as treatments are designed to remove the obstruction to allow the patient to breathe properly.
- Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain can’t efficiently communicate to the muscles responsible for breathing during sleep. This is more rare and must be treated by a specialist to address the underlying condition.
- Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea (MSA) can occur due to an underlying condition in addition to an obstruction. As the name suggests, this form is more complex and treatments are designed to remove the obstruction while addressing the underlying issue.
Sleep Apnea Care with Dr. White
If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, you want a treatment that doesn’t restrict the way you live. That’s why Dr. White is committed to providing oral appliance therapy to Utah patients in Enoch, Hamilton’s Fort, Kanarraville, or the surrounding areas seeking a comfortable sleep apnea solution they can stick with. Give us a call at (435) 267-0486 or fill out the form at the bottom of this page to learn more about sleep apnea or to schedule a free consultation with our expert sleep dentist so that you can get started on the path to high-quality sleep.