Sleep Apnea – Burien, WA
Better Sleep, Better Quality of Life
Do you keep your partner awake at night from your snoring? Do you occasionally wake up gasping for breath? Do you feel as though you haven’t had good rest, even after a full night of sleep? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could have a serious condition called sleep apnea.
Dr. Thomas and the rest of our team at Seahurst Park Dentistry are concerned about those who have this problem, which is why we offer effective therapy. To learn more about sleep apnea and the treatment we provide, you can keep reading and make an appointment with us!
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when you stop breathing during sleep. Most often, the airway becomes blocked, and your brain wakes you up just enough to start breathing again. As a result, deep rest can be difficult to reach.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include the following:
- Chronic or loud snoring
- Daytime fatigue
- Gasps for breath during sleep
- Irritability, mood swings, or depression
- Headaches, particularly in the morning
- Low libido
After you’ve undergone a sleep test and been officially diagnosed with this condition, Dr. Thomas can then prescribe therapy to keep sleep apnea from ruining your rest and overall health.
The Dangers of Sleep Apnea
At first, poor sleep quality may not seem like a big deal; however, not getting enough rest consistently can impair your response time and judgment. In fact, studies show that driving while drowsy may be equally as dangerous as driving drunk!
In addition, sleep apnea has been found to significantly raise blood pressure levels, increasing the risk of heart disease or a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. In pregnant women, sleep apnea has been reported to lead to more premature births and other complications. Needless to say, this condition is about so much more than snoring.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
Commonly, sleep apnea is treated using a device called a CPAP machine. This apparatus comes with a mask, which is worn during sleep and forces air into your body to ensure you are breathing properly. As you might imagine, the machine can be rather loud and the mask a little uncomfortable. On that note, some find CPAP therapy to be just as disruptive as sleep apnea!
At Seahurst Park Dentistry, we offer another choice: oral appliance therapy. Basically, it’s a mouthguard-like appliance that you wear while you sleep. It repositions the lower jaw forward, making it harder for facial tissues to block your airway. This less-invasive alternative can be used in conjunction with or instead of CPAP therapy, depending on how severe your case is, and it could help you finally get the deep rest you desperately need.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Knowing what sleep apnea is and fully understanding it are two different things. In order to improve the quality of your sleep, you need to make sure that you’re as informed as possible when it comes to your sleep disorder and your options for treating it! Naturally, you can always talk to our team if you have any questions, but you can also start learning more about sleep apnea right now by reading the FAQs below and taking a look at the detailed answers we’ve provided.
Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?
Snoring is one of the most common side effects of sleep apnea, and it could be a major warning sign that something’s wrong if it’s accompanied by other concerning symptoms. That being said, snoring is not always a sign that you have sleep apnea, and the disorder isn’t always guaranteed to cause snoring to begin with. As such, the only real way to know for sure whether you have sleep apnea is to have a sleep test performed. A sleep expert can review the results of your test and determine whether you have sleep apnea as well as how severe it is.
Will My Sleep Apnea Go Away If I Lose Weight?
While each situation is unique, oftentimes losing weight could make a positive difference for your sleep apnea symptoms. When you’re overweight, there’s a greater chance of tissues in your mouth or throat obstructing your airway while you’re asleep. Losing weight often means there’s less tissue around the airway, making blockage less likely to occur. That said, there’s no guarantee that losing weight will put a stop to your sleep apnea for good. Another sleep test will be needed to check whether or not the disorder is still present.
How Soon After Starting Sleep Apnea Treatment Will I Notice an Improvement?
First of all, you need to consider the time it will take for you to get used to your sleep apnea treatment. When it comes to oral appliance therapy, your mouth may need a night (or a couple of nights) to adjust to that device. After that, though, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to get comfortable enough to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
In many cases, oral appliance therapy can improve the quality of your sleep almost right away. Pay attention to your symptoms; if they seem to be less severe than they used to, that’s often a good indicator that the treatment is working.
Can I Have Oral Appliance Therapy If I Grind My Teeth?
Not only is wearing an oral appliance for sleep apnea still possible even if you grind your teeth at night, but the device may actually end up helping you with both problems at once. Wearing an oral appliance means that your teeth won’t make direct contact with each other during the night, which can help keep the enamel safe from further damage.
Can I Diagnose Sleep Apnea on My Own?
It may seem like knowing the symptoms of sleep apnea should be enough to determine whether you have it, but unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Loud snoring may be a common warning sign of sleep apnea, but the two don’t always go hand in hand. On top of that, plenty of symptoms linked to sleep apnea can have alternative explanations.
You’ll need a sleep expert to properly diagnose your sleep apnea. This involves undergoing a sleep test where your breathing and other vital signs are monitored while you’re asleep. If an expert reviews the results of your test, they can determine whether you’re suffering from sleep apnea or a different issue. This is a crucial step for getting the treatment that you need to enjoy more restful nights again.
How Can I Travel with Sleep Apnea?
Travelling with sleep apnea is significantly easier for patients who rely on oral appliances rather than CPAP machines. Oral appliances are very small and can even be put in your pocket if necessary; this makes them far easier to pack compared to bulky CPAP machines.
Remember, even with your oral appliance, you will still need to be proactive about making sure that your sleep disorder is properly managed. Try to stick to your normal sleep schedule as closely as you can, even while you’re away from home; this generally makes it easier to fall and stay asleep.
Who is Most at Risk for Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is typically more likely to affect men, post-menopausal women, pregnant women, and people who are overweight. That said, the disorder can still occur in people who don’t fall into these categories, so it’s always worth keeping an eye out for potential warning signs.
