What to Know About Sleep Apnea

What to Know About Sleep Apnea

November 2, 2021

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that involves breathing stopping involuntary when sleeping. More than 70% of Americans experience sleep apnea at some point in their lives. There are plentiful treatment choices for sleep disorders. If your relative or friend has sleep apnea in Citrus Heights, CA, visit Airway Sleep and TMJ Solutions for sleep apnea treatment near you.

Airway Sleep and TMJ Solutions is a sleep clinic in 95610. It brings the sleep apnea dentist near you for convenience. You might not know whether you are suffering from sleep apnea or another sleep disorder in some cases.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

  • Loud snoring
  • Morning headache
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty gaining concentration
  • Insomnia
  • Feeling very sleepy during the daytime
  • Dry mouth in the morning
  • Gasping during sleep time
  • Breathing stops momentarily during sleep – can only be reported by a secondary party

If you detect the above symptoms, visit a sleep doctor near you as quickly as possible. When you visit a sleep doctor, they will evaluate the symptoms and identify whether or not you have sleep apnea. If the doctor concludes you have sleep apnea, they further assess the signs to ascertain the type of sleep apnea you have.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea – This is the most common type that affects the relaxation of the throat muscles.

Central Sleep Apnea – Central sleep apnea happens when the brain sends incorrect signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome – it’s the most challenging form of sleep apnea since it involves both obstructive and central sleep apnea. It is also called treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can affect any person. It’s mainly caused by medical conditions, lifestyle habits, and physical structures. The significant factors that cause sleep apnea include:

  1. Obesity

Excessive weight is a significant cause of sleep apnea in adults. It is because obesity increases the fat deposits around the neck, causing the airway passage to become narrow. It increases turbulence and resistance of airflow, causing vibrations on the soft tissues at the back of the throat and snoring.

  1. Endocrine Disorders

The endocrine system secretes hormones that affect breathing during your sleep. Three common endocrine disorders are closely related to sleep apnea. Acromegaly is a condition that increases the levels of growth hormones. It causes swelling of the throat, which increases the tongue’s size and changes in the facial bones.

Hypothyroidism is a disorder connected with low levels of thyroid hormone. It affects the brain section that controls breathing, plus the muscles and nerves used during breathing. It causes obesity.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that only affects women. It causes large ovaries, which alters regular ovulation. It’s common in overweight people.

  1. Age

The risk of getting sleep apnea increases as you age down.

  1. Drugs

The use of sedatives, tranquilizers, and alcohol causes the muscles around your throat to relax, worsening obstructive sleep apnea. Smoking also increases the chance of having sleep apnea by three times. It intensifies inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway.

  1. Medical Conditions

Some conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Other conditions closely associated with sleep apnea include hormonal disorders, chronic lung disease, asthma, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

  1. Gender

Males have a higher probability of getting sleep apnea, specifically central sleep apnea.

  1. Neck Girth

People with thick necks are likely to have a narrow airway, increasing the risk of getting sleep apnea. A wide neck is associated with excess weight.

Other risk factors include:

  • Family history
  • Nasal congestion
  • Narrow airway
  • Using narcotic pain medications such as opioid

Diagnosis and Treatment

A sleep doctor diagnoses sleep apnea by checking your medical history, conducting a physical exam if necessary, and using results from a sleep study. The dentist must first rule out other medical conditions with reasons.

Treating sleep apnea is simple. It ranges from basic treatment options to complex ones depending on your diagnosis report. They include lifestyle changes, breathing or oral devices, implants, and receiving mouth and facial muscles therapy. The last option if all others fail is undergoing surgery to correct the affected tissues and muscles.

Conclusion

Improve the quality of your sleep by visiting a sleep clinic by booking an appointment, especially if you experience some of the symptoms associated with sleep apnea. The dentist uses an ideal treatment option to restore your health to normal.

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