Approximately 18 million people across the United States suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, although a large percentage of those are unaware that they have the disorder. They often feel excessively sleepy throughout the day and may have other challenges as well, but don’t realize that it’s due to their breathing being stopped multiple (sometimes hundreds) of times every night.
To diagnose sleep apnea, a sleep study is necessary. In many cases, a home sleep study, rather than a sleep study in a laboratory, is the best option. If you have excessive sleepiness, talk with your doctor about the possibility of sleep apnea. If you’re not sure whether your daytime fatigue is something to be worried about, take the Epworth Sleep Test, a screening test for sleep problems.
Because multiple serious health conditions are associated with sleep apnea, treatment of the condition is very important to overall health. You can imagine that having your brain and other organs deprived of oxygen multiple times every night could cause some damage, not to mention the lack of sleep that goes along with being awoken over and over (even if you don’t remember the awakenings). Here are some of the health conditions that sleep apnea can cause. Seek diagnosis and treatment for your sleep apnea to reduce your risk for these.
For many people with sleep apnea, oral device therapy can be effective at managing the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. These devices help to keep the upper airway open during sleep, by holding the lower jaw and/or the tongue in a position that doesn’t block the airway.
For those who suffer with mild sleep apnea, oral devices provide efficient relief of symptoms. However, lifestyle changes can also dramatically improve the quality of life for sleep apnea sufferers. Consider implementing these lifestyle changes. They can make a dramatic difference for many people.
Other treatment options for sleep apnea also exist. For instance, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine can be used. This device blows air into your face through a mask all night, in order to keep your airway open. While it can be very effective, many people don’t like having air blowing in their faces all night, and so they don’t want to use the CPAP device.
By making an appointment with Mill Creek Sleep Dentistry today, you can begin investigating treatment options which might prove to provide a viable solution for your sleep apnea symptoms.