Ever snore so loud you woke yourself up?
Do you get sleepy during the day? Do you sometimes wake up because you can’t breathe?
These are all symptoms of sleep apnea. The condition happens when the upper airway gets blocked repeatedly while sleeping. It affects all ages and both genders, but the two main causes are obesity and genetics. Luckily, there are things like CPAP Machines to help those with the condition breathe properly while they sleep.
“While there is a correlation between obesity and sleep apnea,” says Dr. Yusuke Suzuki, who practices dentistry in Lodi. “I’ve seen really skinny people have it.”
There are three different types of apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Obstructive blocks the airway when the soft palate muscles at the back of the throat relax. In central, your brain doesn’t send the necessary signals to the muscles that control your breathing. Complex apnea is a combination of both.
Luckily, there are lots of different ways to treat the condition. Most people like finding the best oral appliance for sleep apnea to help them deal with it while others look for alternative methods. It’s all down to personal preference. Alternatively, looking into buying something like a CPAP could really benefit you if you are suffering from sleep apnea. It is important to treat your sleep apnea because it means that you are lowering your risk of heart disease, strokes, and other health implications, therefore allowing you to hopefully be healthier and happier in the long run.
Apnea can be a nuisance, but it can also be dangerous. Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea was to blame for two separate commuter train crashes in the New York metropolitan area last month, killing one and injuring more than 200 others.
“Job accidents are associated with sleep apnea,” says Dr. Suzuki. “When you don’t get enough sleep at night, you’re not attentive during the day.”
The leading treatment is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. Through pressurized air in a face mask, it allows for better breathing but can be uncomfortable. Dental appliances are another option. Similar to a mouth guard or orthodontic retainer, this gets the tongue out of the way and pulls the jowl forward to create an easier breathing pattern during sleep. Another treatment could be to use something like CBD oil which people can buy from places like CBD Queen. The oil helps to reduce any inflamed areas in the brain and help to relax the cells so that the person can sleep better and with limited sleep implications. There are many methods that can be used to help control and ease sleep apnea, the patient just needs to find the correct one for them.
Dr. Ronald Kass, who heads Pacific Sleep Disorders Center in Stockton, says the dental options are a simple solution. “It only takes a few millimeters of advancement to control sleep apnea.”
Left untreated, sleep apnea can be fatal. Carrie Fisher and Antonin Scalia died from it in 2016. NFL superstar Reggie White died from sleep apnea in 2004. His family founded the Reggie White Sleep Disorders Foundation, which provides CPAPs for those unable to afford them.
Dr. Kass mentioned sleep apnea aggravates health issues like high blood pressure, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. But, the lack of oxygen from ineffective breathing can pose another long-term problem.
“Sleep apnea causes dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Kass replies. “Memory problems are common complaints even in people in their teens and 20s with sleep apnea.”
Sometimes patients opt for surgery in a procedure known as Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP. Dr. Suzuki says surgery results have been mixed, so many physicians don’t recommend it.
If you suspect you may have a sleep disorder, talk to your doctor. Isn’t time you finally got some shut-eye?
For More Information:
Suzuki DMD & Associates
810 S. Ham Ln., Lodi
(209) 334-0630
SuzukiDmd.com
Pacific Sleep Disorders
Multiple San Joaquin Locations
PacificSleepCenter.com