Mature man sleeping in a comfortable bed at home
Do you snore loudly? Does your spouse complain loudly? Persistent snoring could indicate a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea where breathing actually stops several times a night for the persistent snorer. Beaver Creek sleep apnea dentist, Dr. James A. Striebel, offers innovative Somnodent oral appliances to relieve this concerning health issue.
Signs and kinds of sleep apnea in New Carlisle and Beaver Creek
Sleep apnea has several signs and symptoms–some noticed only by the sleeper and others obvious to the spouse or other person sleeping in the same room:
- Loud, persistent snoring
- Startling awake, gasping for breath
- Measurable oxygen deprivation
- Morning headache
- Irritability
- Memory and concentration problems
- Anxiety and depression
- Sore throat
- Dry mouth
- Daytime sleepiness and overall fatigue
These issues often combine with more serious problems such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and abnormal liver enzymes.
Additionally, sleep apnea falls into 3 distinct categories:
- OSA, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea, in which soft oral tissues relax, collapse and block the airway, causing oxygen deprivation and the vibration we call snoring
- CSA, or Central Sleep Apnea, in which the brain does not tell the respiratory system to breathe
- Mixed Sleep Apnea which is a combination of the other 2 kinds
OSA is more common, and CSA is more serious. Both require evaluation by the primary care physician and possibly a sleep specialist for further monitored study.
Who gets sleep apnea?
Both kids and adults can develop sleep apnea. However, some factors seem to predispose an individual to this health problem:
- Excess body weight
- Smoking
- Alcohol abuse
- Age over 40
- Being male
- Having a large neck circumference
- Sinus or allergy issues
- Treatment of sleep apnea
The most complex cases of New Carlisle sleep apnea may require surgery or a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine which delivers a continuous flow of oxygen via facial mask. The airflow essentially holds the throat open so breathing is continuous and snoring stops.
More mild OSA cases improve dramatically with use of a custom-made SomnoDent oral appliance. Crafted from a proprietary polymer and superior quality acrylic, the SomnoDent mouth guard holds the jaw in a more forward position and keeps the airway open.
Worn each time the sleep apnea patient sleeps or even naps, the appliance eliminates disruptive snoring and dangerous oxygen deprivation. Patients find their SomnoDent appliances so comfortable they are very compliant with their treatment. Constructed from oral impressions taken by your Beaver Creek dentist, Somnodent appliances are durable, and best of all, they really work to alleviate sleep apnea.
Are you snoring?
Don’t laugh it off. Get it evaluated. Contact Dr. James Striebel today for a sleep apnea consultation. It may be the healthiest thing you do for yourself this year, and your spouse will thank you for it.