What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when shallow breathing or pauses in your breathing prevent you from sleeping soundly through the night. This disrupted breathing causes you to move in and out of deep sleep, which negatively affects your sleep quality. There are two types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
The more common form of sleep apnea, OSA is caused by a blockage of the airway, disrupting your airflow. Blockages are usually due to soft tissue at the back of the throat that collapses during sleep.
Central sleep apnea
This type of sleep apnea is due to the respiratory control center in the brain rather than a blockage in the airway. With this form of sleep apnea, your brain fails to trigger the muscles to breathe.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is excessive fatigue during the day, which can lead to poor performance in everyday activities. You might also experience:
- Morning headaches
- Restless sleep
- Waking up with gasping or choking sensations
- Insomnia
- Waking with a very dry or sore throat
- Loud snoring
If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to more severe conditions, including:
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Stroke
- Heart disease and other heart-related issues
- Accidents while operating cars and machinery
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
Your doctor can diagnose sleep apnea through a sleep apnea test, which is done at home or in a sleep disorder lab. During the sleep apnea test, called a polysomnogram, a sleep specialist records and analyzes your sleep to measure its quality.
Can sleep apnea be treated?
If you have sleep apnea, treatment is readily available. From lifestyle changes to surgery, treatment options include:
- Modifying sleep positions to improve breathing
- Weight loss
- Quitting smoking
- CPAP masks that deliver oxygen while you sleep
- Surgery
Dr. Mannan is trained to treat sleep apnea and makes customized oral devices that are designed to keep the airway open while you sleep. These are made in-house and are available within 1-2 weeks.
If sleep apnea is keeping you from getting a good night’s rest, contact Dr. Mannan at Rainbow Dental, PC or book an appointment online today.
