How Can You Tell if You May Have Sleep Apnea?

November 23, 2015

You would typically trust a general dentist in Dallas, TX to help maintain the appearance of your smile and care for your overall oral health. Yet did you know that providers like Dr. Neeley can also help you to improve your sleep? Obstructive Sleep apnea is a condition that keeps over 18 million other Americans just like you from getting the good rest you need to recharge your body and promote good health.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a blockage of your airway restricts your breathing during sleep. This blockage is typically caused by the soft tissue in your throat collapsing. The result is shallow breathing or even momentary respiratory pauses. If left untreated, it can lead to health complications such as:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Heart problems
• Stroke

The Telltale Signs

The trouble is that you may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and not even know it. Therefore, recognizing sleep apnea symptoms is critical if you wish to manage and treat it effectively. They include:

• Loud snoring: The same airway obstruction that causes sleep apnea will also cause you to snore. If your spouse is complaining about your nighttime snoring, your problem could be much more serious than keeping him or her awake.
• Nighttime gasping: Another effect of sleep apnea that may go unnoticed without the assistance of your spouse or partner is episodes of gasping. Because your sleep apnea can actually cause momentary pauses in your breathing, you may often gasp for air during the night. Ask your partner to observe you for such episodes.
• Fatigue and drowsiness during the day: Sleep apnea keeps you from reaching restorative REM sleep levels during the night. Thus, you will often remain tired and drowsy during the day.

There is Hope

Many are forced to resort to the use of cumbersome continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines to treat obstructive sleep apnea. However, through minimally-invasive NightLase treatment, Dr. Neeley can provide you with relief from this disorder without the need for nighttime assistance.

Do not give up hope of achieving a good night of sleep without the assistance of a CPAP. With Dr. Neeley’s help, you can enjoy healthy, uninterrupted, and mostly importantly, unaided sleep in no time at all. To see of you might be a candidate for NightLase, call and schedule an appointment with us today.

Comments

comments

Related Articles

• When To Replace Your Porcelain Veneers

  Comments comments

• These Symptoms May Indicate That You Have Sleep Apnea

  Adequate sleep is essential for good mental and physical health, but what if you have a condition that keeps you from getting the rest you need each night? Sleep apnea is a very real and very common condition that affects more than 100 million people worldwide. Here’s what you should know about the sleep disorder […]

• Signs That It Is Not Just Harmless Snoring

  There are many people who snore while sleeping, and this tends to be more of a nuisance for partners than a serious medical condition. However, sometimes snoring goes beyond annoyance and tends to indicate a more serious problem. If you suspect something more than just harmless snoring, you or your significant other could be suffering […]

• Dangerous Side Effects of Sleep Apnea

  Sleep apnea is a serious condition that occurs when the airway is blocked while a person is sleeping. There are different types of apnea – some of which are caused by the brain simply not sending signals, and others caused by blockage of the airway from the tongue or throat closing. The good news is […]

• Do You Have Sleep Apnea? Learn to Spot Common Symptoms

  Sleep apnea is a serious condition with long-term health consequences, and many people who have it don’t even realize that it’s a problem. That’s because many of the symptoms of this disorder present themselves as sleep problems that go along with the stresses of modern life. A lot of patients who could benefit from treatment […]

• The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

  Sleep apnea in Fishers, IN is a sneaky condition that often goes undetected by those who have it. Since many of the most obvious symptoms (including snoring and gasping for air) occur at night while the affected person is sleeping, they are easy to overlook. Chronic sleep deprivation eventually causes daytime symptoms as well, so […]

• Summertime and Sleep Apnea Effects

  Summer means longer days, more pollen in the air, and temperature changes that can make days up to forty degrees warmer than nights sometimes. All these factors can affect sleep disorders, especially serious ones like sleep apnea. When that happens, symptoms tend to escalate, and patients who are not currently being treated for the disorder […]

• Men’s Health Month: Talk About Sleep Apnea

  June is an important month for many reasons. The weather hits its sunny stride and families start heading out on vacation during the break from school. June also happens to be Men’s Health Month, and Dr. Patrick Cieplak and our staff at Cieplak Dental Excellence in La Plata, MD feel it is important to address a […]

• All You Need to Know About Sleep Apnea

  Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that affects hundreds of thousands of individuals each year. Unfortunately, many cases remain undiagnosed and people find they are tired all day even after a full night’s sleep. At the Jacksonville Center for Prosthodontics and Implant Dentistry, we are committed to helping every patient live his or her best […]

• How TMJ Affects Your Oral Health

  Your temporomandibular joint serves as a sliding hinge that connects the skull to your jawbone. Disorders can develop within this joint, often referred to as TMJ, which cause chronic pain. These disorders can be the result of a physical injury or frequently grinding the teeth. Our experienced dentist, Dr. Tilman Richards, can treat this disorder […]