Sleep apnea is a terribly disrupting condition that affects far too many Americans — some 22 million Americans suffer from the condition, actually. And sleep apnea doesn’t just disrupt your sleep. When you can’t get in a full, uninterrupted seven or eight hours every night, it leads to extreme daytime fatigue and starts to feel like poor sleep is interfering with your whole life.
Does that sound familiar?
Unfortunately, it’s estimated that up to 80 percent of moderate to severe cases of sleep apnea go undiagnosed. The only way to change that statistic is to increase awareness of the condition — and that means informing our patients about its symptoms and treatments. Read on to learn a little bit more about sleep apnea, and what you can do about it.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Many times, it’s not the sufferer who realizes he or she has sleep apnea. Because the most common symptoms are fitful sleep or loud snoring, it may be a spouse or partner who first identifies the problem. Other symptoms include:
- Daytime fatigue
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth or sore throat
- Forgetfulness
- Waking with a sudden gasp or choking sensation
Because many of the symptoms of sleep apnea are similar to those of other conditions — like depression — sleep apnea is usually misdiagnosed, and mistreated. If you suspect you or your partner are suffering from this condition, you should consult your dentist immediately.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Once you’ve correctly diagnosed your sleep apnea, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Correct diagnosis is the hardest part, but after, the condition is usually successfully treated. Dr. Striebel will likely fit you with a removable device you wear at night to help prevent the problem that causes sleep apnea — read on to learn more about the most popular option in removable devices.
Somnodent
Somnodent sleep appliances work by keeping the soft tissue muscles of your mouth — like your tongue — in place, ensuring that they don’t move around and obstruct your airway during sleep. These devices are comfortable, easy to sleep in and custom made, ensuring a perfect fit for your unique mouth. Our sleep apnea patients who have used Somnodent to sleep better agree — it’s given them their lives back.
Call Your Dentist Today
If you or someone you love are suffering from the exhausting effects of sleep apnea, don’t wait to seek treatment. Call Dr. Striebel today — we help patients in Huber Heights, Beaver Creek or New Carlisle get the full night’s sleep they need… and deserve.