Sleep apnea is, for many sufferers, a surreptitious enemy. Some of this disorder’s commonly experienced symptoms can be hard to trace back to sleep apnea. That is why our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentists are here to share some information about how sleep apnea manifests, and what kinds of health issues you may experience as a result. We hope that this overview allows you to feel more comfortable reaching out for sleep apnea care if necessary.
As you may already know, sleep apnea occurs when a patient’s oral tissue fall into his or her airway while he or she is asleep. These relaxed oral tissues prevent the patient from breathing normally. Consequently, the patient’s blood oxygen levels drop throughout the night; the body has to continually wake in order to restart the breathing process.
If you’re dealing with sleep apnea, you may find that…
· You’re suffering from chronic headaches, especially upon waking
· You feel fatigued during the day, and perhaps have trouble concentrating; this is a result of disrupted sleep
· You experience dry mouth during the night
· You find yourself waking frequently, or even gasping/choking awake (keep in mind that not all patients remember sleep apnea-related wakings, so you may be dealing with sleep apnea even if you don’t have memories of waking up)
One of the most concerning aspects of sleep apnea is that it can increase the sufferer’s risk of dealing with a whole host of health of problems down the road. Sleep apnea patients have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and depression. The good news is that prompt and effective sleep apnea treatment can help you minimize your health risks.
Give our O’Fallon sleep apnea dentists a call to get more information and to schedule a personal consultation. We are here to help you!