Do you often feel tired during the day, or do you snore frequently in the night? If so, then you may consider an assessment to see if you have sleep apnea. In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist looks at our thorough sleep assessment and also common risk factors behind the onset of sleep apnea.
Common Signs of Trouble
How do you know when to talk to our team about possible sleep issues? With sleep apnea, as you rest at night the soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat become too relaxed and then collapse. This cuts off airflow, so you stop breathing until the brain wakes you to resume. While you may not remember these episodes, they can happen hundreds of times a night and interrupt your sleep cycle, so you feel exhausted and tired the next day. You could also experience moodiness, difficulty with concentration and memory, episodes of waking in the night choking or gasping for air, or chronic snoring. When one or more of these apply to you, then you need a sleep assessment. Otherwise, the disorder could eventually strain your immune system and even place pressure in your cardiovascular health!
Risk Factors Behind The Disorder
You should also be aware of the common risk factors for developing sleep apnea. We’ve mentioned snoring, but you should also be aware that factors include high blood pressure, large neck circumference, obesity, deviated septum, sinus and allergy issues, and a family history of sleep issues. If one or more of these possible risk factors are present in your life, and you experience one or more of the common symptoms we discussed above, then you should consider an appointment right away for a sleep assessment.
Our Thorough Assessment
Our assessment consists of ten questions. If you find that three or more relate to you, then you likely have sleep apnea and require treatment to manage it! Questions include whether you have high blood pressure, snore frequently, or stop breathing in the night according to a spouse. We also ask if you toss and turn, feel tired during the day, fall asleep at work, or wake in the night struggling to breathe. Depression is a possible factor, as are sudden personality changes. Our team can then offer treatment, usually in the form of a custom and comfortable oral appliance!
If you have any questions about how we assess and diagnose issues like sleep apnea, then contact our team today to learn more.
SCHEDULE AN ASSESSMENT WITH DR. STEWART TODAY
We want to make sure you can enjoy a good night’s rest and avoid strain on your heart health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Stewart, call our Livonia, MI, team today at 734-425-4400.
