A good night’s sleep is vitally important for overall health, and while most people occasionally snore, for others, the problem is more persistent and could potentially be sleep apnea. Unlike snoring, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can cause serious health problems. If you or a loved one are snoring loudly and awaken feeling fatigued even after supposedly having a full night’s sleep, you could have this disorder.
Most people with sleep apnea in Oshawa have obstructive sleep apnea or OSA, where the throat muscles relax during sleep, partially or completely blocking the airway. As a result, breathing stops for several seconds before the body registers that oxygen levels are falling and restarts breathing, usually with a loud gasp or snort. While these episodes may not be enough to awaken the sufferer, they disrupt sleep and can occur hundreds of times a night.
Symptoms of OSA
Other than loud snoring, signs you may have sleep apnea include awakening with a dry mouth or headache, feeling excessively sleepy during the daytime, and difficulty concentrating. You may also become increasingly irritable, and when it comes to going to sleep, you could have difficulty staying asleep.
How Can OSA Affect General Health?
Feeling excessively tired during the daytime can increase the risk of accidents in the workplace or while operating machinery or driving. You may become quicker to lose your temper or will be depressed. Children with sleep apnea can find it difficult to concentrate at school, affecting their ability to learn.
The frequent pauses in breath caused by sleep apnea result in blood oxygen levels dropping suddenly, increasing blood pressure and putting the cardiovascular system under strain, increasing the risk of hypertension or high blood pressure. There is also the risk that OSA could increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks and atrial fibrillation where the heart doesn’t beat properly. Regular episodes of low blood oxygen levels in people with heart disease can even lead to sudden death.
What to Do If You Think You Might Have OSA?
If you are concerned you may have OSA or another form of sleep apnea, you may need to have a sleep study, where your sleep is monitored in a clinic or at home using a special device. The data collected is analyzed by a sleep specialist to determine if you have this condition and the degree of severity. There are two ways to treat sleep apnea in Whitby.
Treating Sleep Apnea
If you have severe sleep apnea, you may be advised to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, consisting of a small face mask that continuously pumps a supply of pressurized air while you sleep, helping to hold the airway open.
Mild to moderate OSA can often be treated with an oral appliance for sleep apnea in Ajax that we can supply here at Margolian Dentistry. The oral appliance is custom-made and designed to be as comfortable as possible to wear during sleep. It works by moving your lower jaw slightly forwards, so there is less chance of your tongue flopping back and your throat muscles collapsing inwards and holding open your airway so you can breathe properly. An oral appliance can be easier to use than a CPAP device and could be suitable for anyone who cannot tolerate using this machine during sleep.
Sometimes certain lifestyle changes can also help make a difference, such as making sure you are a healthy weight and quitting smoking. If you have any allergies that affect your breathing, it could be worth getting treatment from your GP.