Getting a good night’s sleep is important. It’s the time that allows us to recharge, decompress, and feel rested to take on the next day. When something disrupts this time at night, however, you can feel like effects for days. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes you to snore very loudly which can disturb anyone you are sharing your bed with. What’s more is that it actually causes you to wake up many times throughout the night, wreaking havoc on your sleep schedule. There are solutions, however, that can drastically improve the quality of sleep for both you and your loved ones. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist discusses the causes of sleep apnea and the solutions we can provide.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
It is often caused by a blockage in your airways when you are sleeping. When it comes to Obtrusive Sleep Apnea, the muscles in the back of your throat excessively relax, causing you to stop breathing momentarily. Even though it is a short period, your brain snaps awake in a panic and you gasp for air. This interrupts your sleep cycle every time it occurs.
Interestingly, you probably won’t even know that you are waking up because it happens so quickly. This, unfortunately, makes the disorder difficult to diagnose if you are not living with someone who can tell you about your snoring. The cycle of falling asleep and waking up can happen over a hundred times every night. As you can imagine, this has detrimental effects on your sleep pattern, which causes exhaustion, memory loss, high blood pressure, and more. If you consistently wake up tired and sluggish despite being in bed for eight hours, you may suffer from this condition. If so, be sure to tell your dentist the next time you visit them for a checkup and cleaning.
Treatment Options
If you believe you suffer from obtrusive sleep apnea, we will assess your mouth and conduct sleep tests to see if this is, in fact, the issue at hand. If it is, we will create a custom nightguard for you to wear while you sleep. You may be familiar with CPAP machines as sleep apnea treatment, but these devices are loud and cumbersome. On the other hand, a custom sleep guard is small and fits in your mouth while you sleep. It adjusts the position of your tongue, jaw, and palate in order to help the muscles in your throat stay open while you sleep. This is a very effective treatment option, and it is much simpler to use and maintain than a CPAP machine.
Contact Us To Learn More About Sleep Apnea
If you think you might have this condition, please do not hesitate to reach out to us today. Contact SleepWell Houston in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 to schedule your next appointment with our team today.
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