Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition in which your breathing starts and stops repeatedly during sleep. It is fairly common and fortunately, it is also treatable. If you think you are dealing with sleep apnea, it is important to obtain a diagnosis and get treatment so you can avoid severe side effects of the condition.
It helps to learn about sleep apnea’s warning signs so you can act accordingly. After going through the article, if you believe the symptoms apply to you, please contact our dental office which specializes in the management of sleep apnea for a consultation.
The most prevalent kind of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when the soft palate, tongue, or other tissues of the mouth, palate, or throat obstruct the airway. Another type, central sleep apnea, occurs when the brain region responsible for breathing fails to transmit the proper signal for breathing functions.
The term “mixed sleep apnea” refers to a condition where patients experience both central and obstructive sleep apnea. This can also be referred to as complex sleep apnea syndrome or treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.
A person with sleep apnea may stop breathing for about 20-30 seconds at a time, and the event may occur multiple times each hour. Indeed, individuals with severe sleep apnea may have breath stoppages hundreds of times during the night without realizing it. The following are five warning symptoms of sleep apnea:
Sleep apnea often causes patients to feel weary and drowsy throughout the day due to oxygen deprivation and interruptions to deep restorative sleep. If patients feel exhausted and have trouble staying awake throughout the day, sleep apnea could be hurting their sleep quality despite getting a whole night of sleep.
Since sleep governs a broad range of vital body functions, inadequate sleep may significantly influence one’s health, leading to a number of disorders ranging from hormone disturbance to immunological failure.
Snoring is not a universal sign of sleep apnea, but snoring is a significant warning symptom of the condition. Numerous folks are completely unaware that they snore, but those who share a bed with another person can ask about any noises they make while sleeping. Snoring, snorting, and gasping are all common sleep apnea warning signs. The louder the snore, the higher the likelihood of sleep apnea.
When it comes to key warning symptoms of sleep apnea, waking up at night to pee is as prevalent as snoring. Indeed, the American Sleep Foundation reports that approximately 85 percent of persons with sleep apnea have frequent overnight urination. Awakening to pee once throughout the night is not a reason for panic and is common in the general population. However, waking up many times throughout the night to pee might be an indication of sleep apnea, especially if a person is not drinking an excessive amount of fluids before going to bed.
Getting good sleep is sometimes difficult for persons who suffer from sleep apnea. Restlessness could also be an indication of the condition. Patients with sleep apnea may find themselves tossing and turning uncomfortably during sleep. This is often the result of the brain sending signals to wake up and resume breathing.
People with sleep apnea often wake up in the morning with a dry mouth or the feeling of a sore throat. This can be due to sleeping with an open mouth, which can dry out the throat and the airway. This is especially prevalent with OSA and therefore can be seen as a warning sign. So while sleep apnea itself may not directly cause dry mouth, it can force mouth breathing at night (and in some cases, during the daytime as well). Note that the use of a CPAP machine — often used by sleep apnea patients — can also cause dry mouth.
Sleep apnea is not a condition that should be ignored as this can have a deep impact on your quality of life and can be a life-threatening condition, too. If you are experiencing snoring or any related sleep apnea symptoms, please contact Artisan Dental in Bellevue for an appointment. Dr Syeda Bakhtawar, a Diplomate of American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine has treated hundreds of patients with this condition and we would be happy to help you.
Request an appointment here: https://artisandentalbellevue.com or call Artisan Dental Bellevue at (425) 454-2005 for an appointment in our Bellevue office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Do I Have Sleep Apnea in Bellevue, WA.
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