Some patients may have come to understand the many negative side effects of sleep apnea but still feel unsure of exactly how to define this problem. First, we encourage all patients to become familiar with the basics of this sleep disorder. By understanding the underlying cause and effect, the details surrounding the symptoms and the appropriate treatment will become much clearer. For those of you looking for a quick refresher course, look over the following information:
About Sleep Apnea
There are two different types of sleep apnea – central and obstructive. Central sleep apnea is a neurological problem, which requires the attention of a neurological specialist. However, obstructive sleep apnea is often treatable by dental professionals. This disorder occurs when your throat muscles, which usually remain active while you sleep, completely relax. Because they support your throat tissue, the problem permits your tissues to collapse against one another. The result? Blocked airways. You will wake up suddenly struggling to take in air. This occurs because your brain recognizes it is not receiving adequate oxygen and will signal your body to wake up and breathe.
Common Symptoms
One of the difficulties with diagnosing this disorder is that patients often wake and go back to sleep so quickly during the night that they do not remember the episode in the morning – even though this may occur repeatedly throughout the night. You may rely on additional symptoms to help alert you of this problem, including the following:
- You think you slept through the night but you feel tired or exhausted during the day
- You wake up with a sore throat, dry mouth, and/or headache in the mornings
- You feel moody throughout the day and have trouble concentrating
- Your significant other has witnessed your sleep apnea episodes
ABOUT YOUR LIVONIA MI DENTIST:
James R. Stewart, Jr, DDS, PC and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. If you think you or a loved one is dealing with a sleep disorder, call our office today at (734) 425-4400, to schedule an appointment. At Dental sleep Medicine of Michigan, we are committed to forming trusting relationships with our patients so we can work together to achieve sound treatment and a future full of restful nights.
