Sleep Apnea
Improve your sleep quality and overall health with effective sleep apnea treatment at Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry. Dr. Cory Wilkinson offers specialized care to help you manage and overcome sleep apnea, ensuring restful nights and better days.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. Common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and difficulty concentrating. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to severe health issues such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Schedule an appointment today to address your sleep apnea symptoms and improve your quality of life.
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What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. These lapses reduce the quality of sleep and affect the body’s oxygen supply, potentially leading to serious health consequences. There are three main types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): The most common form, caused by the throat muscles relaxing excessively during sleep, blocking the airways and preventing normal breathing.
- Central sleep apnea (CSA): Occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the breathing muscles, resulting in short periods without breathing. This is a rare form of sleep apnea.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome: Also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, this type involves a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
While sleep apnea is often associated with loud, intense snoring, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. The condition can be caused by factors such as being overweight, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, or genetics. People with a family history of sleep apnea are at a higher risk. According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in the United States, affecting children and adults of both sexes, although it is more prevalent in men.
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How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and sleep studies. Dr. Wilkinson may refer you to a sleep specialist who will conduct a polysomnography, an overnight sleep study that monitors your breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels, and other vital signs while you sleep. Home sleep apnea tests, which are more convenient and less intrusive, may also be used to diagnose the condition.
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How is sleep apnea treated?
Treatment for sleep apnea varies depending on the severity and type of the condition. Common treatments include lifestyle changes such as weight loss and avoiding alcohol, the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, and oral appliances designed to keep the airway open during sleep. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove or reduce tissue that blocks the airway. Dr. Wilkinson will work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your specific needs.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about sleep apnea treatment and oral appliances, please contact our office and we will be happy to discuss further.
