What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that cuts off your breathing during sleep, which causes your brain to force you to wake up, so you can start breathing again. The waking can happen anywhere from 20 to 100 times throughout the night, making you chronically exhausted from lack of sleep.
If you snore at night and feel like you are barely making it through your day, sleep apnea may be the cause. Our practice can give you a diagnosis along with excellent treatment that can help you get a good night’s sleep again.
Untreated Sleep Apnea is Dangerous
Many people are unaware that they have sleep apnea because patients often fall asleep again immediately after an episode. In fact, we have found research showing an estimated 80 percent of sleep apnea cases go undiagnosed and are therefore untreated.
Not only are many people getting poor sleep, but they are also deprived of oxygen. This can lead to serious health complications including:
- ADHD
- Dementia
- Diabetes
- Heart Attack
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Sudden Death
Even if you’re not sure that your snoring and daytime fatigue may be caused by sleep apnea, an accurate diagnosis won’t hurt anything and can definitely help if you’re suffering from lack of sleep.
Common Symptoms
The most recognizable sign of sleep apnea is when you stop breathing during sleep, something your partner may have noticed. Other common symptoms include:
- Snoring that is loud or has become louder recently.
- Gasping, choking, or snorting during sleep.
- Decreased ability to focus or concentrate during the day.
- Poor memory or memory loss.
- Exhaustion, lethargy, and falling asleep unexpectedly during the day.
- Onset of acid reflux or GERD.
- High blood pressure.
- Headaches, usually worse right after waking up.
- Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat.
When you come to visit, we’ll discuss all of your symptoms with you when making a diagnosis and customizing your treatment plan.
Advantages of Treatment
If your sleep apnea has gone untreated for years, you may have forgotten just how essential a full night’s sleep is for your health.
Continuous Sleep
We want you to fall asleep and stay asleep for enough consecutive hours to fit in the REM cycle your mind and body needs, allowing you to sleep deeply again.
Daytime Energy
You can wake up feeling refreshed and energized! You need to be alert and focused during all of your daily activities, whether at work or driving down the road. You can be productive and engaged.
Improved Relationships
Keeping your loved ones up at night with your snoring may cause strain on a relationship. With treatment, you can stop snoring and regain clarity of mind for better conversation and patience.
Better Health
Decrease and eliminate the health risks that are often associated with sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Solutions
We provide a wide range of sleep apnea treatments, including:
Oral Appliance Therapy
An oral appliance may be all you need to treat your sleep apnea! The appliance works like a mouthguard and keeps your airway clear and open while you sleep to prevent your jaw and tongue from obstructing your airway.
CPAP Device
A CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device, is a mask that fits over your nose and mouth. It attaches to a machine designed to produce mild pressure on your airway to keep it open while you sleep. The CPAP can provide immediate results and relief when worn consistently.
Upper-Airway Surgery
Some cases of sleep apnea are caused by a deviated septum or an excess of soft tissue in your throat. Surgery can repair or remove the obstruction, but we usually recommend you try other treatments first.
Common Questions
Sleep ApneaRisk Quiz
Complimentary Sleep Apnea Consultation
If you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea and would like to see a dentist in Lafayette CO, call to schedule a free thirty-minute consultation with us right now. We can talk about your symptoms, your risks, and any questions you might have.
