Sleep apnea affects millions of Americans. Yet if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, you might not even know it. Sleep apnea can seriously diminish your quality of life, and it can contribute to major health problems over time. It’s important to understand the contributing factors and symptoms of sleep apnea so that you can seek treatment if needed. We offer sleep apnea therapy at Dental Expressions near Kaukauna, WI.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is the name of a condition in which the sufferer experiences unusually long pauses in breathing throughout the night. Pauses can last for around 10 seconds or even longer, and they have the power disturb sleep.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea sufferers often complain of:
- Daytime fatigue
- Frequent waking and trips to the bathroom during the night
- Difficulty concentrating
- Moodiness or irritability
- Waking with dry mouth
- Snoring
- Waking out of breath
Many of these symptoms are similar to anyone suffering from a variety of parasomnias, such as insomnia. If you suffer from these symptoms, we invite you to visit Dental Expressions to explore the possibility that you’re dealing with sleep apnea.
What is sleep apnea therapy?
Sleep apnea is often caused by various types of airway obstruction. Your soft palate or tongue can obstruct airflow, making it difficult to breathe. Sleep apnea of this type is generally treated with an intraoral appliance designed to keep your airway open. Our dentists are trained in the treatment of sleep apnea with sleep apnea therapy, so they can assess your situation and have an intraoral appliance made specifically for you.
Contributing factors for sleep apnea include weight management problems and smoking, so if you need to lose weight or quit smoking, the Drs. Heil might recommend these actions as part of your sleep apnea therapy.
Sleep apnea can contribute to high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, depression, and diabetes. People at risk of sleep apnea are overweight, over forty, have large oral structures such as tongues or tonsils, have a family history of sleep apnea, and suffer from gastroesophageal reflux. Men are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than women.
Don’t suffer with the effects of sleep apnea. Contact Dental Expressions to make an appointment to discuss sleep apnea therapy with one of our dentists. Located near Kaukauna, we serve the entire Fox Cities area and Green Bay.
