Knowing you have sleep apnea is the most important part to dealing with it. Unfortunately, many people who suffer from its symptoms don’t realize that they do, or that there’s a need for treatment to address their condition. At our Livonia, MI, office, we help patients deal with sleep apnea and enjoy deeper, more peaceful rest by offering custom-designed appliances that they can wear while they sleep. If you aren’t sure whether or not you have sleep apnea and can benefit from an appliance, then the first step should be to speak with a sleep expert at our office.
Take stock of your symptoms
The first sign that you have sleep apnea is a chronic habit of snoring loudly at night. Sleep apnea involves an obstruction in your airway, and as it becomes clogged, your breathing becomes increasingly louder. Sleep apnea sufferers will not be able to alleviate their chronic snoring habit until they address their sleep apnea condition. In addition to snoring, you may also feel tired and exhausted most days, have trouble concentrating or remembering things, become highly irritable, be subject to mood swings, and more.
Ask your sleeping partner how well you sleep
Most people with sleep apnea don’t realize that they snore every night, or that they stop breathing periodically when they sleep. In fact, patients are often diagnosed with sleep apnea only after their sleeping partners prompt them to seek treatment. Speak with your sleeping partner to determine if you have a snoring problem, or if you frequently seem to jolt awake and start breathing suddenly in the night.
Talk to your sleep expert about a diagnosis
Once you suspect that you might have a snoring or sleep apnea problem, it’s important to remember that you can’t know for sure, or treat it, without help from your sleep expert. During your visit, discuss all of the reasons that you think you might have sleep apnea, and what options you might have for treating it, if you do. We may suggest a take-home assessment that helps you diagnose your sleep apnea without having to spend an entire night in a sleep lab.
Wear a custom sleep appliance every night
If it turns out that you do have sleep apnea, then we may be able to help you control it with a custom sleep appliance. The appliance can be designed to support your lower jaw comfortably and in a position that’s just right to prevent obstructions in your airway. This means you won’t snore or stop breathing while you sleep, so your sleeping and breathing patterns won’t be interrupted.
Learn more about how to deal with sleep apnea
If you suffer from a sleep breathing disorder, like sleep apnea, then you shouldn’t hesitate to deal with it by speaking to your sleep expert. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling James Stewart, DDS in Livonia, MI today at (734) 425-4400.
