Your Dentist Can Help With Sleep Apnea, the Hidden Cause of Sleepless Nights

Millions of people all around the United States suffer from insomnia. Experts have estimated that more than 60 million adults struggle with chronic sleeplessness, that is, significant problems with sleep that last more than a week.In many cases, science cannot identify the exact mechanism behind chronic loss of sleep. That said, there are cases where sleep loss is caused by identifiable medical conditions. One of these – one that your dentist can help you with – is sleep apnea.

People can have sleep apnea for months or even years, experiencing considerable disturbance during sleep on a regular basis, without knowing it.

What is sleep apnea?

— Sleep apnea is a chronic health condition that disrupts sleep, most frequently among adults.

— Sleep apnea is characterized by shallow breathing or longer than normal breathing pauses.

— Sleep apnea causes you to shift from normal “deep” sleep into light sleep when it occurs.

— In severe cases, sufferers report waking up suddenly, out of breath, with no apparent cause.

While there are several forms of this condition, the one that is most prevalent is “obstructive sleep apnea.” In this situation, your airway becomes obstructed – blocked – while you are asleep. This can be caused by the shape or structure of your throat and does not necessarily mean you have a foreign object “caught” in your airway.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can intensify and lead to other severe symptoms:

— Increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke, among other conditions.

— Increased risk of heart failure and major heart risk factors such as diabetes and obesity.

— Increased risk of developing an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) which can be serious.

— Significantly enhanced odds of suffering from a workplace or driving accident.

Luckily, your dentist can help you with sleep apnea. Though it might be challenging for you to discover you have the condition – bedroom partners are often the first to notice it – once you suspect you have sleep apnea, treatment is available.

How Your Dentist Can Help You With Sleep Apnea

In many cases, obstructive sleep apnea can be treated using a simple oral device that you wear in your mouth during sleep. This item gently prevents the sequence of events that leads to airway blockage. Other dental therapies may also be possible.

If you wake up feeling tired or groggy on a regular basis, or you know that you snore, you might suffer from sleep apnea. Call our office today to explore your options. All around Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, or Newbury Park, we are the dental office your neighbors trust.