Sleep Apnea

Have you been struggling to get a quality night’s rest? Do you often feel exhausted during the day? Sleep apnea may be to blame. This common sleep disorder can have a profound impact on your health and quality of life. 

If you think you may have sleep apnea, we encourage you to read below and determine if you are experiencing any of the symptoms or are considered at high risk for this disorder. Once you have a better understanding, please reach out to your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. From there, our Ayden, NC team can begin finding a treatment plan that works for you.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. There are three types of sleep apnea: 

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This is the more common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep. 
• Central sleep apnea (CSA): Unlike OSA, this type of sleep apnea isn’t caused by a blockage. It’s the result of your brain not sending proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing. 
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome: This occurs when someone has both OSA and CSA.

Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea

Most people who have sleep apnea aren’t even aware that they have the condition because it only occurs during periods of rest. Oftentimes, it is a family member or bed partner that first notices symptoms; these can include: 

• Loud snoring  
• Interrupted breathing during sleep 
• Gasping or choking sensations during sleep 

Other symptoms that may be experienced during the day include the following: 

• Excessive daytime sleepiness 
• Fatigue 
• Moodiness 
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Irritability 
• Headaches

Risk Factors

Several risk factors may increase your chance of developing sleep apnea, including: 

• Increasing age 
• Being overweight
• Having large tonsils, a large tongue, or a narrow airway
• Nasal congestion 
• Family history of sleep apnea 
• Use of alcohol or sedatives
• Smoking

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Upon receiving a confirmation of diagnosis for sleep apnea, there are treatment options available. At our practice, we offer an option to relieve symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea with an oral appliance.

Oral appliances are comfortable to wear and work by moving the lower jaw slightly forward to help keep the airway open during sleep. This simple device is an effective alternative to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which is a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask to keep the airway open.

If you have any questions about sleep apnea or are interested in learning more about our oral appliance therapy, please reach out to our office and schedule an appointment. We would be happy to discuss your options and help you find a treatment plan that works for you.