Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can cause you to temporarily stop breathing while you sleep. This happens due to an obstruction in your airway or as a result of your brain not sending your lungs a signal to continue breathing. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder among adults in the United States. Here are the symptoms, causes, and treatments for sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
There are a few symptoms of sleep apnea with the most standout one being the lack of breathing while sleeping. Since you won’t be able to notice that symptom, someone else such as a partner or roommate may be able to notice it. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Dry mouth when waking up
- Reduced focus
It is important to note that some symptoms of sleep apnea may not be noticeable to the person experiencing the condition. An example of this is loud snoring followed by gasping or choking. An individual sleeping may never realize that they do this.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
There are two forms of sleep apnea which are Obstructive and Central sleep apnea. The causes of the two are different. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the muscles at the back of the throat begin to relax, which can reduce the amount of air that is able to pass through. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to communicate with the muscles responsible for breathing.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
There are several treatment options that can help reduce sleep apnea difficulties and symptoms. One of these treatment options is available in the form of CPAP therapy, also known as positive airway pressure. This treatment can help with obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea as it helps aid the breathing process while you sleep. However, many patients find it difficult to sleep comfortably with a CPAP, and not everyone can tolerate it.
Oral appliance therapy is another great treatment option for sleep apnea. It is comfortable and less intrusive when compared to CPAP therapy. Oral appliance therapy utilizes a mouth guard, which is worn at night when you sleep, which supports the jaw by maintaining it in a forward position.
Schedule An Appointment Today
At Mcdowell Dental Group, we believe that everyone deserves to have the best quality of life possible, and we are committed to helping you find relief from sleep apnea. If you’re interested in exploring oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea, please call our office at 215-885-0555, or schedule an appointment on our site.
