Sleep Apnea
Frederick, MD
While many people often joke that they survive on little to no sleep and are still able to function normally, the truth is that sleep is incredibly important. Sleep is a restorative process, crucial for giving your mind and body time to rest and recover. After a full night of sleep, you should feel rested, refreshed, and ready to tackle the day ahead. However, for millions of Americans, this type of sleep can seem elusive. If you wake up feeling exhausted, and like you never went to bed in the first place, you may be suffering from a condition called sleep apnea. Dental Arts of Frederick can help.
What is Sleep Apnea?
As you sleep, your body goes through two different cycles. These cycles repeat several times and are essential for your mind and body to rest and repair themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you have sleep apnea, your breathing pauses for several seconds, called an apneic event. This happens multiple times throughout the course of the night. Every time that you stop breathing, you wake up, and you are usually completely unaware of it. When your breathing is restored, you go back to sleep, but your body has to start the sleep cycles all over again. Because this happens numerous times, your body is unable to complete the necessary sleep cycles, leaving you feeling exhausted.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea ranges in severity from mild to severe. With mild sleep apnea, you have approximately 5 to 14 apneic events per sleeping hour. With severe sleep apnea, you experience 30 or more apneic events per sleeping hour. There are also a few different types of sleep apnea.
| • |
Obstructive sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea is the most common, and it is caused by a blockage of your airway.
|
| • |
Central sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea occurs when there is a failure of communication between your brain and your breathing muscles.
|
| • |
Mixed, or complex, sleep apnea. This is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea. |
What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
There are several symptoms associated with sleep apnea. These include:
| • |
Extreme fatigue upon waking up.
|
| • |
Snoring.
|
| • |
Dry mouth or throat.
|
| • |
Excessive daytime sleepiness.
|
| • |
Trouble concentrating.
|
| • |
Difficulty controlling your emotions.
|
| • |
Falling asleep during the day, including while working or driving. |
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a sleep study. During this study, you are attached to machines that monitor your breathing and other vitals while also monitoring the electrical impulses sent by your brain to your muscles. In the morning, a sleep specialist reads the results and can make a diagnosis of sleep apnea or another sleep related issue.
How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
There are both surgical and nonsurgical treatments available for sleep apnea. These treatments include:
| • |
Weight loss.
|
| • |
C-PAP.
|
| • |
Occlusal or night guards.
|
| • |
Oral surgery. If your sleep apnea is severe, or no other treatments have worked, you may be recommended for surgery. |
Sleep apnea can make it feel like quality sleep is always out of reach. With effective treatment, you can finally get the sleep you need to wake up rested and ready to go. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call Dental Arts of Frederick at 301-732-7277 today.
|
