FAQs About Sleep Disorders in Livonia, MI
Sleep disorders are conditions that affect your ability to achieve a restful night’s sleep. While the first problem that comes to mind may be insomnia, the disorders we treat are often much less apparent. If you find you wake in the morning after what you thought was a full night of sleep, only to experience exhaustion and other discomfort, contact us for a visit. We may be able to help treat a sleep disorder you weren’t even aware you had.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep Disorders.
Question: What is sleep apnea?
Answer: Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects a wide group of people who often do not realize this condition is a part of their sleep cycle. With sleep apnea, you wake often during the night as a result of collapsing airways. When you cannot breathe comfortably and consistently, your brain wakes your body up momentarily to correct the problem. This issue leads to a wide range of symptoms and can even lead to permanent damage and subsequent health problems. Dr. Stewart and our team provide the following sleep apnea services to help you get a quality night’s sleep:
- Referral to a sleep center for a full evaluation
- Oral appliances to correct your jaw alignment and to prevent airway collapse
- CPAP therapy, a process that uses pressurized air to maintain open air passages
Question: Why do we snore?
Answer: While you may think of snoring as a comical fact of life, this loud nighttime occurrence is considered a sleep disorder. Similar to sleep apnea, snoring occurs when your airways do not remain fully open. Snoring is a result of only partially closed airways. Chronic, excessively loud snoring, however, may be a sign that you suffer from sleep apnea. In either case, it is essential to seek treatment and rule out a more severe disorder.
Snoring can wake you up during the night and it may also wake up your loved one. We offer a variety of treatments to help you remain sleeping and breathing comfortably – and quietly. Come into our office to speak with us about potential lifestyle changes that may help you achieve a restful night’s sleep. The treatments we offer for sleep apnea, including oral appliances and CPAP therapy, may also be useful for snoring.
Question: What is UARS and how does it affect my sleep?
Answer: Upper airway resistance syndrome, or UARS, occurs when our airways narrow, causing resistance when breathing. Unlike sleep apnea, some patients with UARS may not experience loud snoring or choking and gasping in their sleep. As a result, many people are unaware that they or their partners suffer from UARS.
UARS often signals the early stages of obstructive sleep apnea, as the body must work very hard to maintain breathing. Diagnosing and treating this issue early reduces the risk of sleep apnea. Like sleep apnea, symptoms of UARS include daytime drowsiness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and waking frequently in the night. This issue affects men and women in equal numbers and occurs in people of normal weight.
Question: If I already have a dentist, do I really need to find another one for sleep apnea treatment?
Answer: If you are suffering from sleep apnea or chronic snoring, you should see a dentist who specializes in sleep medicine. However, this doesn’t mean you need to stop seeing your current dentist for cleanings or checkups.
Question: Will my insurance cover sleep apnea treatment?
Answer: That will depend on your policy’s coverage. More and more insurance policies are covering oral appliances and other sleep disorder treatments. For more information, contact your insurance provider.
Treatment Options
Dr. Stewart will thoroughly examine you, speak with you about your health history, discuss your concerns, and may recommend further evaluation. Our goal is to pinpoint the cause of your sleep apnea or snoring, and to create a customized care plan to help you avoid sleepless nights, and frustrating symptoms, such as dry mouth, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. Call us at your earliest convenience so we can begin to discuss and develop a treatment plan today.
