While snoring is exceedingly common, at a certain point, it can be a sign that something is amiss. When you are chronically snoring and it is quite loud and jarring, you could suffer from sleep apnea. This condition not only causes unpleasant-sounding snores but also severely affects the quality of your sleep. Those suffering from this disorder actually wake up hundreds of times each night — though they do not know it — which understandably wreaks havoc on their sleep pattern. While this is a difficult disorder to live with, there are helpful solutions that can improve your sleep and quality of life. In today’s blog, your Pella, IA, dentist discusses this disorder and the treatment we can provide.
Sleep Apnea Is Bigger Than Just Snoring
This disorder is caused when the muscles in the back of your throat excessively relax while you are sleeping, causing your airways to become blocked. When this happens you very briefly stop breathing, causing your brain to snap awake in a panic. Though this is a very quick period of wakefulness, one that you probably won’t even be aware of, it still interrupts your sleep cycle. This happens repeatedly throughout the night, often upwards of a hundred times. Those with Sleep Apnea usually learn from loved ones who can hear the excessive snoring, but those who do not share a room with someone may not know they have it; again, waking up is so brief that you likely won’t know it is occurring. This disorder prevents many from ever getting a full night’s rest, despite seemingly sleeping for seven to eight hours. This lack of sleep can cause stress, exhaustion, memory loss, elevated blood pressure, and much more. If you are always tired and notice any of these symptoms, you may have sleep apnea.
There Are Effective Treatment Options
If you suffer from sleep apnea, know that there are solutions that can provide you with relief. Even if snoring in and of itself doesn’t bother you, the poor sleep it causes can affect so much of your daily life, making it difficult to function normally. To treat sleep apnea, we can make you a custom-designed night guard to wear while you sleep. This appliance adjusts your tongue, jaw, and palate into a position that prevents your airways from becoming blocked. This is a much quieter, simpler, and less unwieldy alternative to a CPAP machine. Because this mouthguard is custom-made to fit your unique mouth, it fits comfortably, so you can enjoy a good night’s sleep once again.
Learn More About Sleep Apnea Treatment
If you have questions about this disorder or would like to schedule an appointment, we invite you to contact Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA by calling 641-628-1121.