What is Sleep Apnea? Hoover

The Basics of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder where natural breathing is interrupted during sleep, and the condition is dangerous enough to be a serious risk for other health issues. People who suffer from sleep apnea have been known to stop breathing for as little as ten seconds up to two minutes or even longer, and this can occur between 60 and 100 times per hour. At some point, the frequency of the cessation of breathing may reach a point where most of the hour is spent not breathing!

There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common, and this occurs when the airway is being obstructed as you sleep, limiting airflow and causing snoring. Central sleep apnea is a neurological breathing disorder and is caused by the brain not sending the proper signals to the body to breathe while sleeping. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

Learn More About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms

When people think of sleep apnea, the first thing that comes to mind is snoring. Snoring can be one of the most obvious symptoms of sleep apnea, but it’s not the only symptom. Did you also know that you can have sleep apnea and not snore? The following are some other associated symptoms:

• Loud and/or excessive snoring
• Episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
• Startling awake with a feeling that you can’t breathe
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Headache immediately upon waking
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks during the day
• Fatigue
• Mood changes, such as depression or irritability
• High blood pressure
• Nighttime sweating
• Bruxism (clenching/grinding of your teeth)
• Nocturia (using the bathroom several times during night)

You may not have all of these symptoms, you may only have a few, and having one or two of these symptoms does not mean you have sleep apnea. Often, the symptoms of sleep apnea aren’t apparent to the person suffering from this condition because they mostly occur when the patient is asleep. If you don’t’ have a bed partner, you may not even realize that you’re snoring. And, if you have other factors, such as a busy, hectic life schedule, you may not be aware that your fatigue and inability to focus is a result of sleep apnea and not stress.

For these reasons and more, we highly recommend that you consult with Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Dr. Ardovino, your sleep dentist in Hoover, can work with you to help you achieve a better overall quality of life.

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The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea isn’t something that can be ignored. Even short periods of breathing cessation can have dire consequences. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to things such as:

• High blood pressure – breathing interruptions can spike blood pressure during sleep
• Heart problems – when blood pressure increases several times throughout the night, it can damage the lining of the blood vessels as well as raise cholesterol and other blood fats levels
• Stroke – reduced blood flow to the brain can cause stroke
• Acid reflux – due to the cessation of breathing while lying down, stomach acid is able to more easily travel up into the throat
• Cognitive decline – due to oxygen deprivation in the brain, among other things
• Sleep deprivation – this has its own host of related problems
• Motor vehicle accidents – due to lack of adequate sleep, lowered ability to focus, and higher risk of cardiac event while driving
• Damaged relationships – due to increased irritability, overreactions to negative events, unreasonable actions
• Forgetfulness – due to lack of adequate sleep and oxygen deprivation

It may seem surprising to find out that so many negative outcomes can come from having sleep apnea. But this is precisely why seeking sleep apnea treatment in Alabama is so important.

How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

Sleep apnea is diagnosed with the help of a sleep study and a sleep physician, which our team will coordinate for you if you haven’t already had one. We work with local pulmonologists, neurologists, and sleep centers to ensure that our patients are seen sooner, and we also work with sleeptest.com to offer at-home sleep studies.

During your sleep study, your breathing patterns, heart rate, oxygen levels, and other vitals will be tracked and charted as you rest. This will allow a sleep physician to review the results and determine whether you have sleep apnea, and if you do, diagnose the type of sleep apnea you have. Once you have a diagnosis in hand, our team can help you navigate your treatment options, such as CPAP therapy or oral appliance treatment. As dental sleep apnea providers, our team focuses on oral appliances.

How is Sleep Apnea Treated?

While many patients who get diagnosed with sleep apnea start their journey off by using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, oral appliance treatment is our focus. Oral appliances are customized sleep apnea devices that are noise-less and sleek. They’re worn while you sleep and act to keep your airway unobstructed. Because they don’t make any sound and don’t require you to place a mask over your face, they’re an excellent alternative for our patients who have struggled with CPAP for various reasons. Oral appliances can also be used in combination with CPAP treatment for patients with more complex sleep apnea cases.

Learn More About Oral Appliances

Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment

When you treat your sleep apnea, you’re not just helping your partner sleep easier at night by decreasing your snoring, you’re also boosting your health and improving your quality of life. Here are some benefits you can enjoy when you invest in treating your condition:

• A better night’s rest that helps you wake up feeling refreshed.
• Lower risk of associated medical conditions, such as heart disease.
• Reduced risk of depression and mood swings.
• Easier to maintain autoimmune conditions, such as diabetes.
• Lower risk of daytime fatigue and car accidents due to drowsy driving.