Do you snore badly? Do you wake up feeling like you hadn’t slept? Sleep apnea and the health risks they pose are serious. Left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and more. Dr. Patel and the staff at Infinite Smiles have the expertise to help diagnose and treat your sleep conditions. With our help, you can soon go back to receiving the rest you need.
What is sleep apnea?
Simply, sleep apnea is a disorder that prevents you from breathing during sleep. Consequently, this disrupts your natural sleep cycle, preventing you from receiving a good night’s rest.
The average sufferer can wake up as many as 200 times each night. This is significantly more than even the most restless sleeper.
There are two common forms – obstructive and central. Additionally, a third form can occur. It is called complex sleep apnea or treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea
Your airway becomes blocked when muscles in the back of your throat relax.
Central sleep apnea
During sleep, your brain fails to transmit signals to your breathing muscles.
Complex sleep apnea
A combination of both obstructive and cental sleep apnea.
Risk factors of sleep apnea
This disorder can affect men and women of any age. However, certain factors increase your risk for developing this sleep disorder.
Being overweight
Chronic nasal congestion
Family history
Heart disorders
Larger neck circumference
More common in older men
Narrowed airway
Opioid pain medications
Smoking
Stroke
Swollen tonsils or adenoids
Use of alcohol or sedatives
Sleep apnea health risks
Sleep apnea symptoms can be inconvenient or alarming. As a result, it is important to monitor and manage your symptoms appropriately. This is because complications can, in fact, be life-threatening. Left untreated, the following complications can occur:
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Daytime fatigue and difficulty concentrating
Hypertension, abnormal heartbeat and heart attacks
Low blood oxygen levels (hypoxia or hypoxemia)
Mood swings, irritability and depression
Sleepwalking, sleep talking or sleep eating
Disrupted sleep for long-term partners
Liver problems including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Metabolic syndrome, including high cholesterol and weight gain
Surgical complications relating to sedation and pain medications
Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
The most common symptom is chronic loud snoring . However, daytime fatigue, weight gain and irritability may also indicate you are suffering from sleep apnea.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, including those listed above, we can help.
Our dentists can help
We agree with sufferers – this affliction is very disruptive. Some days, it may seem like it will never get better. Fortunately, Dr. Neal Patel can help! We provide the solutions you need for healthier sleep starting with these step.
Step 1. Comprehensive consultation
First, we will talk with you to determine which of your symptoms are related to your sleep apnea.
Step 1. At-home sleep test
Second, to diagnose the severity of your condition, we will send you home with a monitor to track your sleep overnight. Testing in the comfort of your home, rather than a hospital-style sleep clinic, can more accurately determine your sleep habits.
Step 1. Sleep analysis
The test monitors several factors overnight. This includes your pulse, oxygen saturation, average breaths per minute, number of apneas and other symptoms.
Step 4. Review results
After your test, Dr. Patel will send your results to a certified sleep physician for analysis. We will go over the results with you and provide you with the proper care.
Step 5. Treatment
Most cases of mild to moderate sleep apnea can be treated with a snore guard. However, severe cases must be treated with the proper CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.
Oral appliances for sleep apnea
For most conditions, Dr. Patel designs a comfortable, custom-fit sleep apnea appliance for you to wear while you sleep. This appliance shifts your jaw just slightly to help your airway stay open.
Our oral appliances, also called digital snore guards, more accurately fit your mouth than traditional guards. We use a 3-D scan of your mouth to design a guard that fits you perfectly, ensuring sound, comfortable sleep for you and your partner.
If you are ready to sleep better, call us today at 740.881.2600 or book your appointment online. If you have any questions regarding sleep apnea health risks or treatment, we are always happy to help.
