Sleep apnea is a very serious condition that affects approximately 12 million people in the United States alone. However, many patients who suffer from sleep apnea remain unaware of the condition. Warning signs of sleep apnea can include loud snoring, teeth clenching and grinding, and pauses while breathing of 10 seconds or more. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, our experienced La Mesa dentist, Dr. Jimmy Wu, can evaluate your symptoms and talk with you about treatment options designed to significantly reduce the effects of this condition and help you maintain a healthy flow of air through oral and nasal passages while you sleep.
For more information about sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, please contact our office today. A friendly member of our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have, or you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Wu to discuss your condition in detail.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea typically occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the tongue, throat, and nasal passages relax to the point of obstructing the flow of air. For some people, these pauses in breath may happen only a few times during a night’s sleep; others may have their sleep interrupted 20-30 times per hour and feel the affects of this condition much more severely. Each time a pause in breath occurs, the brain registers oxygen deprivation and wakes the body to regain proper airflow. However, since these waking events typically last only a moment, most people do not remember any disturbances in their sleep. Whether or not these interruptions in sleep are remembered, the lack of deep sleep can significantly impact waking hours with repercussions such as headache or fatigue, and increase the risk of severe – and even life-threatening – health consequences.
Types of Sleep Apnea
All forms of sleep apnea can have serious affects on one’s health. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of this condition. Caused by the collapse of the soft tissues and muscles of the throat and nasal passage, airways become blocked. However, central sleep apnea (CSA) can be just as threatening to a patient’s overall health. With CSA, the muscles required for normal breathing do not receive the proper brain signals during sleep. Consequently, the patient can experience prolonged pauses in breath. Some patients may be diagnosed with both forms of sleep apnea—a condition referred to as complex sleep apnea or treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can cause many symptoms that impact your waking life as well as your quality of sleep. Since many people who suffer from sleep apnea are unaware they have the condition, oftentimes a spouse or a family member first identifies the symptoms. Common signs of sleep apnea may include:
- Severe snoring
- Choking, gasping for breath, or snorting sounds during sleep
- Waking up breathless
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Persistent drowsiness
If you believe you or a loved one may be suffering from sleep apnea, please seek an evaluation as quickly as possible. Treatment of sleep apnea can reduce the symptoms of this condition while also greatly minimizing associated health risks.
Risks of Sleep Apnea
There are a number of serious health concerns that can be linked with sleep apnea. These risks can include:
- Memory loss
- Weight gain
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Gastric reflux disease
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sudden cardiac death
Some people may have a greater risk of developing sleep apnea than others. Sleep apnea is more likely to affect men than women, and is also more frequently found to affect adults over 40 years of age; however, children can also be affected by this condition. A family history of sleep apnea or obesity can increase your risk for developing this condition. In addition, central sleep apnea (CSA) has been found to more frequently affect people with a history of high blood pressure, neuromuscular disorders, heart disorders, stroke, or brain tumors. Habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or using sedatives or tranquilizers may also increase the likelihood of developing sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
While there are a number of treatment options that can be performed for sleep apnea, Dr. Wu believes that mouthguards and snore guards are often two of the most effective remedies for many patients. Customized oral appliances such as mouthguards are designed to fit comfortably inside the mouth while you sleep. The goal of these treatments is to open up breathing passages to maintain a more positive airflow. This can reduce pauses while breathing, provide a barrier between your upper and lower teeth to prevent grinding, and minimize snoring. Oral appliances can lower risks to your health and reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea as well as provide you with a more restful night of sleep.
At Sutra Dental Spa, we offer a range of techniques to help patients who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. If you are concerned about costs associated with treatment, our office accepts a variety of payment methods and we work with one of the most reputable dental treatment financing companies in America, CareCredit®, which offers affordable monthly payment plans to qualified applicants.
If you have questions about sleep apnea, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wu, please contact us today.
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